Three of the ten undocumented day laborers arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents last month at a Home Depot parking lot in Pomona appeared in court on Tuesday. Families and immigrant advocates gathered outside the Pomona courthouse to demand their release. The three men, all from Guatemala, were scheduled for a bond hearing, but a judge delayed it until Friday for unknown reasons, according to NBC Los Angeles.
The detained individuals, identified as Jesus Domingo Ros, Edwin Roberto Juarez Cobon, and Yoni Ronaldo Jacinto Garcia, have been in the United States for over two years. They are currently held at the Imperial Regional Detention Facility in Calexico. Despite having no criminal records, the ICE attorney argued that they do not qualify for bond, claiming they have been in the country for less than a year and requesting expedited removal, as reported by the News-Journal.
Pro-immigrant groups, including the Pomona Economic Opportunity Center, rallied at Pomona City Hall, demanding transparency from ICE and due process for the detainees. Alexis Teodoro, a workers’ rights director, emphasized that the men are neither a flight risk nor a public safety threat. “They were only outside the Home Depot exercising their constitutional right to look for work in a public space,” Teodoro stated.
The arrests have sparked criticism from activists and elected officials, who argue that the enforcement practices violate constitutional rights. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Border Patrol to prevent unlawful arrests and deportations, as noted by the News-Journal.
As the case continues, immigrant advocates are urging the community to report ICE enforcement actions and are calling for policies focused on relief rather than punishment.
Recent Comments