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Chicagoans Call Out ICE and Home Depot in Defense of Day Laborers

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Andres A. Chavez
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chicagoans gather at a Home Depot to defend day laborers
Elected officials, musicians, organizers, and community members gather outside a Home Depot at Cicero Avenue and Armitage Avenue in Chicago on Nov. 1, 2025, to show solidarity with skilled workers and urge the company to protect day laborers from ICE while they seek work on its premises. Home Depot has faced criticism for remaining silent as federal agents reportedly detained workers and conducted raids outside its stores, while the company’s founders have been vocal supporters of President Donald Trump. Photo/Andres A. Chavez

Community residents, union members, and elected officials gathered outside a Home Depot on Cicero and Armitage in Chicago Nov. 1 to ask for solidarity with Day Laborers facing threats daily from federal agents participating in Operation Midway Blitz, and for Home Depot to take a stance and to not allow agents to conduct immigration detentions on its property.

The demonstration, organized by the Latino Union of Chicago, featured musicians, and speakers from the organization, Alderperson Jessie Fuentes, and Illinois Congresswoman Delia Ramirez.

Home Depot has been criticized for their compliance with the immigration raids occurring outside of their facilities. Undocumented day laborers and skilled workers historically have used the company’s parking lot as a hub to find work, making them especially vulnerable to raids and detentions by ICE and Border Patrol.

“Our spirit will not be broken because we take care of each other,” Congresswoman Delia Ramirez said as a final remark to cheers from the crowd.

chicagoans gather at a Home Depot to show solidarity with day laborers
A demonstrator holds a sign that reads “Fuera ICE,” which translates to “ICE out,” during a rally outside a Home Depot at Cicero Avenue and Armitage Avenue in Chicago on Nov. 1, 2025. As detentions increase across the Chicago metropolitan area, members of the Latino community mobilize to show solidarity with day laborers and undocumented workers. Photo/Andres A. Chavez
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