Why Home Depot Parking Lots Are Emptying: Fear of ICE Drives Day Laborers Away

Every summer, Home Depot parking lots across the U.S. usually fill with immigrant day laborers hoping to pick up work in roofing, painting, or construction. But this year, many of those lots are nearly empty. A growing fear of immigration raids by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is pushing both legal and undocumented workers into the shadows.

Day Laborers Disappear as ICE Cracks Down

In recent months, dozens of day laborers have been arrested outside Home Depot stores in cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Baltimore. These arrests have sparked protests and raised serious concerns among immigrant communities and advocacy groups.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, top Trump advisor Stephen Miller instructed ICE agents in May to focus on locations like Home Depot to target undocumented workers. The policy has had an immediate chilling effect.

“Right now, I’m behind on my rent because I’m scared of getting detained,” one undocumented worker told CNN. He used to look for jobs outside a Home Depot in East Windsor, New Jersey. “This is our busiest season for work, and now we’re too afraid to go out.”

Why Home Depot Became a Day Laborer Hub

Home Depot didn’t ask to be in the middle of the immigration debate, but its parking lots have long been gathering points for day laborers—many of them from Mexico and Central America. The home improvement giant is the fifth-largest retailer in the U.S., and since its rise in the 1980s, it has unintentionally become a magnet for workers looking for day jobs.

The setup worked for everyone: homeowners and small contractors could find help for remodeling projects, while laborers got access to a central spot to offer their skills.

But that informal system is breaking down.

“We’re out in the open with no protection,” said another laborer affiliated with a New Jersey worker advocacy group. “Only God looks over us now.”

ICE Raids and Political Tensions

Home Depot says it doesn’t coordinate with ICE and isn’t notified in advance of any enforcement actions. But it does ask store employees to report incidents and avoid direct contact with immigration agents.

Still, the store’s role as a visible meeting point for workers makes it an easy target. Anti-immigrant groups have protested at Home Depot locations for years. Former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio even conducted immigration sweeps outside its stores during his tenure.

“This issue isn’t new,” said urban policy professor Nik Theodore. “Day labor sites like Home Depot have long been flashpoints for political debate and protest.”

An Unofficial Labor Model?

Some labor advocates argue that Home Depot has directly benefited from this underground economy. With its locations near construction zones and suburban neighborhoods, the company serves as a go-to destination for contractors and handymen looking for quick help.

“Day laborers love Home Depot—and Home Depot’s bottom line benefits from them,” said Chris Newman, legal director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network.

Home Depot denies that day laborers are part of its business model. Still, experts point out that the company’s rise has paralleled the growth of immigrant labor in construction. Nearly 30% of construction workers in the U.S. are immigrants, and more than 20% are estimated to be undocumented.

As contractors compete to win bids, labor costs often determine who gets the job. That’s fueled demand for cheap, flexible workers—many of whom wait in Home Depot lots.

Facing Uncertainty and Risk

The current situation leaves day laborers in limbo. They have few legal protections and are often taken advantage of by unscrupulous employers. There’s no guaranteed pay rate, and some workers report being left unpaid after long days on the job.

Community groups are calling on Home Depot to create safer spaces for day laborers and to refuse ICE entry to private parking lots unless agents have a warrant. Some advocates are even threatening boycotts if the company doesn’t act.

“It’s sad,” said Jackeline Agudelo, head of a community group in New York. “These workers are just looking for jobs. They pay taxes, own homes, and support their families.”

But for many, the fear is too great. One worker said he’s now looking for restaurant jobs instead. “At least I won’t be standing in a parking lot where ICE can just show up,” he said. “But even then, you never really feel safe anymore.”