Brownley, Chu Request Information from Home Depot and Lowe’s Regarding Immigration Enforcement Activity

Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) joined Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-28) and 24 Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to Home Depot Inc. and Lowe's Home Improvement's executive leadership requesting information regarding the growing number of federal immigration enforcement operations occurring at or near Home Depot and Lowe's store locations nationwide.

These operations have increased significantly since President Trump took office, particularly after White House Advisor Stephen Miller directed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to target these stores in order to meet detention and deportation quotas. As a result, there have been numerous troubling incidents at or near these locations that have endangered workers, customers, day laborers, vendors, and surrounding communities. These incidents have included the arrests of U.S. citizens, physical altercations, dangerous vehicle pursuits, medical emergencies, injuries, and the detention of individuals attempting to document enforcement activity.

Some of these incidents have been fatal. In August 2025, Roberto Carlos Montoya Valdez, a 52-year-old laborer, was fatally struck by a vehicle on a nearby freeway after fleeing federal agents during an immigration enforcement operation at a Home Depot in Monrovia, California. In another incident outside of a Home Depot in Los Angeles, federal agents arrested a U.S. citizen, entered the individual's vehicle, and drove away while the individual's one-year-old daughter was strapped to the back seat of the car.

The Members wrote:

"While we recognize that your companies do not control federal immigration enforcement operations and may not receive advance notice of such activity, these operations have occurred repeatedly at or near your stores across the country. As Members of Congress, we believe it is important to understand what information your companies possess regarding these incidents and what steps are being taken to protect the safety of workers, customers, bystanders, and surrounding communities."

"Doing nothing, while there is a human rights crisis happening in your community or at your stores is not an option. And basic transparency is a modest and critical first step," said Salvador G. Sarmiento, staff attorney and campaign director at the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON). "Everyone is doing what we can, and we need these stores to show up, and do something. Because right now, these stores are doing nothing, while their own neighbors and customers are in the cross-hairs."

The letter was also signed by Representatives Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), Norma J. Torres (D-Calif.), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Delia C. Ramirez (D-Ill), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.), LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), J. Luis Correa (D-Calif.), Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), Luz M. Rivas (D-Calif.), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.), Raúl Ruiz (D-Calif.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.), Gilbert R. Cisneros Jr. (D-Calif.), Jesús G. "Chuy" Garcia (D-Ill.), Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), Adelita S. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), and Scott H. Peters (D-Calif.), and is endorsed by the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON).

Read the full letter here.

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Issues: 119th Congress, Immigration