Activists Call for Release and Fair Hearings for 3 Men Detained in Pomona Federal Raid

Immigration activists representing several day laborers who were taken into custody during a federal raid in Pomona are speaking out, alleging the workers are being denied their due process.

On Tuesday, activists and local residents convened a press briefing outside Pomona City Hall, calling for clarity and openness following a judicial proceeding concerning three incarcerated employees.

On April 22nd, at minimum Ten day workers were detained. by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers as they stood outside a Home Depot store, searching for employment.

The raid raised concerns because advocates for immigrants' rights demonstrated against what they saw as the targeting of individuals they claimed were innocent bystanders.

The video footage displayed Border Patrol cars encircling the parking area of the store where the workers were apprehended and subsequently transported to a secret site.

Activists stated that subsequently, ICE took three of those unauthorized employees into their custody and they were kept at a detention center in Calexico.

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The bond hearing for the trio of employees—Jesus Domingo Ros, Edwin Juarez, and Johnny Garcia—is set for Tuesday morning.

"I want to emphasize for the public that an immigration judge evaluates just two criteria when deciding whether to grant a bond hearing: Does this detainee pose a flight risk? And is this detainee considered a national security threat or a danger to public safety?" explained Alexis Teodoro, who works as the Worker Rights Director at the Pomona Economic Opportunity Center.

However, during Tuesday’s hearing, Teodoro stated that ICE officials informed the local immigration judge they lacked jurisdiction over the case since the men had resided in the U.S. for under a year, which made them ineligible for a bond hearing and subjected them to an accelerated deportation process.

Teodoro stated that not only were those allegations untrue, but also that none of the men pose a threat to public safety, and that they have the right to a bond hearing.

All three individuals have resided in the United States for over two years," stated Teodoro. "Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is attempting to rush their deportation by misleading the courts and depriving these men of fundamental rights, such as the chance to speak up. Seeking employment is not illegal. Lurking around waiting for job opportunities near a Home Depot does not pose a danger to anybody.

Arturo Burga, an immigration lawyer from the Inland Empire, provided further insights into the case.

“If you don’t have any evidence that you’ve been in the country for more than two years, you could be at risk of expedited removal and that’s very fast,” Burga said.

If proof supporting that timeline cannot be found, Burga mentioned that their due process will be restricted. Nonetheless, should they have resided in the U.S. for over a year, they'll have additional choices.

“They‘ll get an opportunity to defend themselves from deportation with an immigration judge, but that process is not quick,” Burga said.

In a previous statement during the Home Depot heist, CBP authorities stated, "The agents carried out an action in Pomona aimed at locating an undocumented immigrant who has an outstanding arrest warrant. In this process, they also came across and arrested eight more individuals without proper documentation. Among those detained, several had previous offenses such as child abuse, assault with a dangerous instrument, breaches of immigration law, and driving under the influence."

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Teodoro asserted that numerous arrested laborers had clean records. Regarding the trio of workers under their representation, they aim to demonstrate these individuals have resided and worked in the U.S. for over a year, thus arguing for their release and advocating for them to receive a just hearing presided over by a judge.

"We insist that their right to Due Process must be upheld and that they should at minimum have the chance to secure bail," stated Teodoro.

A subsequent court hearing has been set for May 9th.

KTLA has contacted both the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seeking a statement and is currently waiting for their reply.

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