Recent immigration raids across the Los Angeles region have instilled a sense of fear among day laborers, significantly impacting the operations of centers that connect them with potential employers.
The Home Depot parking lot in L.A.’s Westlake neighborhood was notably affected, being one of the first sites where immigration agents conducted raids.
Martin Pineda, a spokesperson for the immigrant rights group CARECEN, reported a staggering 90% decrease in the number of individuals seeking work at their fenced-off labor center in that lot.
This decline became evident after day laborers were apprehended during the raids on Friday, prompting distress among those who typically rely on these centers for employment opportunities.
“They’re scared,” commented Juan Dominguez, who helps connect workers with jobs at the Pasadena Job Center, one of the area’s oldest labor centers since its establishment in 2000.
Traditionally, the Pasadena Job Center would see about 35 to 40 people arriving daily at its 6 a.m. opening.
However, Dominguez noted that as few as 10% of usual participants have been showing up lately, leaving many to question the long-term financial stability of workers who are already struggling.
“If they can’t go out to work looking for money, what’s going to happen? They won’t be able to pay the rent or their bills,” he added, emphasizing the urgent need for these individuals to find work.
To mitigate the crisis, the Pasadena Job Center has stepped up its support, providing essential food pantry services to those who are hesitant or unable to seek employment amid the ongoing anticipation of further immigration enforcement.
On a recent Tuesday afternoon, only a handful of individuals were found in the storefront space of the center, watching a midday news program while grappling with their anxiety about potential detention.
Rosa, an undocumented worker who opted to keep her last name private, expressed her fears about traveling to the center.
“I didn’t want to come on Saturday because I take the bus here,” she said, admitting the apprehension surrounding the raids has made her physically ill.
Despite these fears, Rosa continued to come back to the center for work cleaning houses and assisting in garden maintenance, driven by the need to pay bills and support her adult granddaughter.
Another individual, Gabino, shared similar sentiments about the looming threat of ICE.
“I take the bus, and that’s a risk,” he commented, reflecting on his employment doing various jobs such as house moving and painting through the center.
In response to the rising concern among the labor community, the Pasadena Job Center has created a WhatsApp group to facilitate real-time reporting of ICE sightings and activities.
Currently, the center is advising workers to refrain from coming in search of jobs as the climate of fear continues to grow, impacting the livelihood of many in the community.
The immigration raids not only disrupt the daily lives of day laborers but also pose significant risks to their financial stability as they navigate an increasingly hostile environment.
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