The Home Depot chain of stores categorically denied any collaboration with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), after a viral publication on the social network Threads claimed that the company had signed a million-dollar contract with the U.S. government to facilitate immigration raids in its parking lots.
The controversy caused great concern among immigrant communities, especially Latino workers in the U.S., prompting both Home Depot and the Department of HomelandSecurity (DHS) to offer official clarifications.
The publication that ignited the controversy
The rumor came from an account on Threads that claimed Home Depot signed a $250 million contract with DHS.
Allegedly allowing the presence of ICE agents in their facilities.
The post, shared thousands of times, fueled fear among immigrant workers and generated calls for a boycott.
In the face of the virality, Home Depot responded from its verified account:
“This story is false. We have no contracts with DHS or ICE. We are not notified that ICE activities will take place and we do not participate in them.”
For its part, the DHS also clarified that it does not inform private companies about immigration operations and denied the existence of contracts with the retail chain.
Have there been raids at Home Depot?
Yes. Although there is no formal agreement, media outlets such as the Los Angeles Times and Telemundo documented raids in June 2025 at three Home Depot stores in the Los Angeles area.
Here, ICE arrested 37 people.
In one of these premises, located on Sunset Boulevard, another raid had been reported days earlier with 20 day laborers detained.
Angeleno Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez denounced the situation:
“These are people who are looking to make a decent living.”
This isn't justice: it's the criminalization of poverty
Hugo Soto-Martínez
Why does ICE act in these places?
Home Depot’s parking lots are known as meeting places for Latino day laborers who provide labor for construction projects.
Their high visibility and concentration make them frequent targets of unannounced immigration operations.
According to George Carrillo, director of the Hispanic Construction Council:
“These operations affect the local economy and generate fear. There are thousands of day laborers throughout the country who depend on these spaces to survive.”
Home Depot’s official position
The company has reiterated that it prohibits the offering of services in its parking lots, but also clarified that it does not interfere or collaborate with ICE.
A spokesperson told CNBC that employees are instructed not to get involved and can leave the site if they feel uncomfortable during a raid, with paid leave.
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com.
