Osvaldo Castro was one of the few day laborers waiting for work outside a Home Depot in Santa Ana, California, as immigration raids have deterred many from seeking jobs. Recent federal raids targeting laborers have led to a notable decline in the number of men typically found in the area, disrupting long-standing relationships between homeowners, contractors, and laborers. These raids not only cause fear and uncertainty among workers but have also sparked protests, some escalating into violence, affecting community dynamics and the labor market.
The deportations at Home Depot threaten to disrupt a decade's long relationship between homeowners, contractors and the laborers they hire for remodeling or landscaping projects.
Castro said the other laborers were scared off by immigration raids happening regularly outside Southern California Home Depot stores, prompting him to seize the opportunity.
Castro described the scene at the Santa Ana Home Depot as a marked change from the dozens of men who usually wait along MacArthur Boulevard for work.
An immigration sweep at the Santa Ana Home Depot was one of several reported in Southern California over the past week, leading to protests and clashes.
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