The article details the experiences of day laborers in California who have faced aggressive ICE raids over the past year and a half.Carlos, a 68-year-old Guatemalan worker, was detained during an immigration raid at a Home Depot parking lot and spent four months in ICE detention before being released with legal support from the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON).Around 80 day laborers gathered at a convention organized by NDLON in Pasadena, marking the first in-person event since raids began.

The gathering focused on discussing strategies to combat immigration enforcement, including potential boycotts of Home Depot, which has been a common workplace for day laborers but has not taken significant action against ICE raids.Organizers emphasized the importance of solidarity among workers, noting that fear and isolation have hindered collective action.

Participants shared stories of friends detained by agents and debated the effectiveness of boycotting Home Depot, acknowledging the risks of such actions while advocating for better protections for immigrant laborers.The event highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by day laborers in balancing survival with resistance against systemic immigration enforcement.