On a warm Thursday morning in Monrovia, California, a tragedy unfolded that has since ignited fierce debate and grief throughout the local community and beyond. Shortly before 10 a.m. on August 14, 2025, a man fleeing an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation at the Home Depot on Mountain Avenue ran onto the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway. Within moments, he was struck by a Ford Expedition SUV traveling at 50 to 60 miles per hour. The man, whose name has not yet been released, suffered major injuries and was transported to a local hospital, where he later died, according to the California Highway Patrol and Monrovia City Manager Dylan Feik (as reported by KABC, Los Angeles Times, and Fox News Digital).
Witnesses say the morning began like any other for day laborers gathered at the Home Depot, many of whom come daily in search of work. But that routine was shattered when immigration agents arrived. According to the Los Angeles Times, a day laborer present at the scene recalled hearing people shout, "La migra, corre"—"Immigration, run!"—sparking a chaotic scramble. Amid the panic, the man at the center of this story fled, jumping a concrete wall and entering the dangerous lanes of the freeway.
Monrovia police received reports of immigration agents at the store at 9:43 a.m., and officers observed what appeared to be ICE agents on site. As the operation unfolded, the man’s desperate flight led him across Evergreen Avenue and onto the freeway near Myrtle Avenue. The California Highway Patrol confirmed that the Ford Expedition’s driver was a 51-year-old man who could not avoid the collision. Vincent Enriquez, a motorist who passed by shortly after the incident, told the Los Angeles Times, "By the time I was passing by ... he must’ve been struck no more than a few minutes prior. He was still moving." But the man’s injuries proved fatal.
City officials quickly acknowledged the gravity of the event. "While we understand community members want to know more about the incident, the information provided in this update is all the city has to provide at this time," Feik said in a statement Thursday afternoon, as quoted by KABC. He added, "There is no ongoing ICE activity reported in Monrovia at this time, and the City has not received any communication or information from ICE." The city extended condolences to the individual’s family and urged the public not to overwhelm emergency lines seeking updates.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was quick to distance itself from the circumstances of the man’s death. A spokesperson told multiple outlets, including Fox News Digital and HeySoCal.com, "This individual was not being pursued by any DHS law enforcement. We do not know their legal status. We were not aware of this incident or notified by California Highway Patrol until hours after operations in the area had concluded."
Yet, the incident has not gone quietly. Almost immediately, outrage erupted. Protesters gathered in front of the Home Depot, waving Mexican flags and holding signs that read "ICE out of L.A." and chanting, "When Trump says get back, we say fight back." According to the Los Angeles Times, about 50 people attended the evening rally, and a bouquet of flowers with prayer candles was placed on the opposite side of the freeway as a memorial to the deceased man. The National Day Laborer Organizing Network scheduled a vigil for the following evening to honor his memory.
Community activists and immigrant rights advocates have laid blame squarely on ICE, Home Depot, and federal immigration policies. Ron Gochez of Unión del Barrio declared, "We hold the Trump administration, the Department of Homeland Security and the Home Depot responsible for his death, and they must be held accountable." He further called for a boycott of Home Depot, accusing the company of complicity in facilitating immigration raids at their stores.
State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, whose district includes Monrovia, issued a scathing statement: "President Trump’s terror campaign has taken another life. My heart goes out to the family of the man killed today on the 210 Freeway in my district. There is such incredible fear in our immigrant communities, so much so that people will run into freeway traffic out of fear when all they want is a chance to support their family and seek the American Dream." Pérez condemned the "violent, sweeping raids" and asserted that the Trump administration was violating a federal court order that barred indiscriminate immigration arrests based on race, language, vocation, or location. "How many more brown-skinned people have to die before the President will obey the law?" she asked, urging both parties to pursue comprehensive immigration reform.
On the ground, the chaos was palpable. Reports from the National Day Laborer Organizing Network and community activists indicated that between 10 and 13 people were detained during the Home Depot raid. Pablo Alvarado, co-executive director of the network, told the Los Angeles Times that another day laborer was struck in the leg by a vehicle believed to belong to immigration agents. "His leg is very swollen, and he doesn’t want to go to the doctor because he’s afraid of going to the hospital right now," Alvarado said. When asked about identification and warrants, Alvarado said it was unclear whether agents had properly identified themselves.
Federal officials, for their part, have defended their operations. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told Fox News that ICE operations are targeted and based on investigative work, not random sweeps or racial profiling. "Every single one of our ICE and Border Patrol operations is built on information, on investigative work," she said. "Remember we’re focusing on the worst of the worst." DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin echoed this, stating, "What makes someone a target for immigration enforcement is if they are illegally in the U.S. — NOT their skin color, race, or ethnicity." She added that 70% of ICE arrests are of criminal illegal aliens with convictions or pending charges.
Still, for many in Monrovia and across Southern California, the human toll feels overwhelming. Karen Suarez, a Monrovia resident, described encountering the daughter of the man who died: "She was visibly very upset, and she was going to go to the hospital and try to find out about her dad. I feel so bad for her. I feel so bad for the families. These are people trying to escape whatever horrible atrocities they came from for a better life." Robert Chao Romero, a UCLA professor and local resident, called the situation "just so inhumane," blaming "horrible, unjust ICE policies" for the man’s death.
The California Highway Patrol continues to investigate the incident and has asked anyone with information to contact Officer J. Rosas. Meanwhile, the community mourns and debates, with a memorial on the offramp and the echo of chants for justice lingering in the air. The questions raised by this tragedy—about immigration enforcement, community safety, and the American Dream—remain far from settled.
