Breaking: ICE Out of Home Depot Legislation Passes California Senate

Sacramento, CA – The California Senate today passed a landmark bill to require Home Depot and other big-box home improvement stores to share information with the public about immigration raids and arrests on their properties.

The REPAIR Act (SB 1103) is authored by Senator Sasha Renée Pérez and sponsored by the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), and championed by community organizations and day laborer centers across the state of California.

“Unfortunately, the aggressive raids and arrests at major retail stores – and the lack of information – has created fear and concern for so many, customers and neighbors, and so many in the workforce, including day laborers seeking work and opportunity,” said Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena).  “But there is much that we can do.  This is one modest step to ensure timely information and public safety.” 

Large home improvement retailers have become the site of ongoing human rights crises.  Yet, the companies have been silent and even unwilling to share basic information about what is happening at their stores.  

“Doing nothing is no longer an option for anyone.  Day laborers are showing up to work, to support each other.  Community members and customers are showing up to protect their neighbors.  Lawmakers need to show up.  And the Home Depot needs to show up and do something.  Because right now they are doing nothing,” said Cal Soto, attorney and National Workers Rights Director at NDLON.  “This is a modest first step.” 

Those affected include workers and homeowners trying to rebuild after the LA fires, and families trying to find and support loved ones after ICE arrests and incidents of abuse.  These incidents have resulted in devastating consequences, including the loss of life, like Roberto Carlos Montoya Valdez who passed away fleeing an immigration raid in Monrovia, California.  

“This effort is for so many workers, neighbors and families who have lost loved ones to this human rights crisis, and for those who have been demanding answers about their parents or neighbors,” said Fanelly Millan, Senior Organizer for the Pomona Economic Opportunities Center (PEOC), who testified at the Judiciary committee hearing and was joined by day laborers from across the state.  “For all of them, we will uncover the truth,” added Millan.

In response to this crisis of misinformation and lack of transparency, the REPAIR Act would establish straightforward transparency requirements for big-box home improvement stores when there is immigration enforcement at their stores.

Over 3,600 people have signed a petition calling on Home Depot to “do the right thing” and share what they know about ICE’s raids at their stores.  The petition reads:

When asked, the company won’t even tell the public which locations have been hit, or what the company is doing in response. Communities are left guessing what is true, what is rumor, and whether it is safe to go about daily life.

At a bare minimum, the company should share what it knows. It should provide customers, workers, and neighbors with accurate information about the raids its stores are attracting.

While the raids are literally intended to cause chaos, confusion, and fear, little has been done to mitigate the crisis at these stores. SB 1103 would begin to repair that harm and help ensure transparency and accountability.

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