A man running from an immigration raid died after an SUV hit him on a Los Angeles freeway, officials say
(CNN) — A man who fled as an immigration raid unfolded at a Home Depot in Southern California was killed when he ran onto a freeway as federal agents moved in, local officials said.
The National Day Laborer Organizing Network identified the man as Roberto Carlos Montoya Valdés, 52, of Guatemala. He ran from a Home Depot in Monrovia, about 20 miles (32 km) northeast of downtown Los Angeles, as Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents began the operation Thursday morning, Monrovia City Manager Dylan Feik said in a statement.
He was heading north across eastbound Interstate 210 when he stepped in front of an SUV going about 60 mph in the far-left lane, the California Highway Patrol said in a release, citing investigators. The vehicle's right front end hit the man, who suffered major injuries and died at a hospital.
The person who ran onto the freeway was 'not being pursued by any DHS law enforcement,' ICE told CNN in a statement. '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.'
California Highway Patrol, which is investigating the incident, said it was not given reports from federal officials about the incident and was not informed in advance of raids in the area.
'CHP can confirm that the incident occurred within the vicinity of a federal enforcement operation,' the highway patrol said in a news release Friday night. 'However, CHP cannot confirm the connection between the enforcement operation and the fatality at this time.'
On Friday, dozens filled the Monrovia Home Depot parking lot in a somber march mourning the loss of Montoya Valdés. 'We're here to just to lift up his humanity, to say his name … and to say that this cannot happen anymore,' Rev. Francisco Garcia, who co-chairs the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles' Sacred Resistance ministry, told CNN affiliate KCAL/KCBS.
Home Depot locations increasingly have become targets for immigration raids as the Trump administration amps up deportation operations as part of a broader crackdown. The home improvement retailer traditionally has been a place documented and undocumented day laborers gather to pick up jobs as roofers, painters and construction workers.
Thursday's death followed that of a farmworker fatally injured in a fall during a chaotic ICE raid in July at a California cannabis facility. It also came as the Trump administration asks the Supreme Court to halt an order barring immigration authorities from stopping or arresting people in and near Los Angeles based solely on factors like what language speak or where they work.
At least 10 people were detained in the ICE operation in Monrovia, said California Assemblymember John Harabedian, whose district includes the city. He called the incident 'frightening and chaotic,' adding in a statement:
'Raids like this do not make our streets safer – they terrorize families, instill fear, and put lives at risk.'
Home Depot wasn't 'notified that ICE activities are going to happen and we aren't involved in the operations,' the retailer told CNN on Thursday.
The National Day Laborer Organizing Network said it has connected with Valdés' family to provide support following his death.
'We also want to support the workers who witnessed and experienced this horrible raid and tragic death,' said the group, which advocates for day labourers, migrants and low-wage workers.
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A man running from an immigration raid died after an SUV hit him on a Los Angeles freeway, officials say
ICE agents conducted an operation on August 14 at this Los Angeles Home Depot. (KABC via CNN Newsource) (CNN) — A man who fled as an immigration raid unfolded at a Home Depot in Southern California was killed when he ran onto a freeway as federal agents moved in, local officials said. The National Day Laborer Organizing Network identified the man as Roberto Carlos Montoya Valdés, 52, of Guatemala. He ran from a Home Depot in Monrovia, about 20 miles (32 km) northeast of downtown Los Angeles, as Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents began the operation Thursday morning, Monrovia City Manager Dylan Feik said in a statement. He was heading north across eastbound Interstate 210 when he stepped in front of an SUV going about 60 mph in the far-left lane, the California Highway Patrol said in a release, citing investigators. The vehicle's right front end hit the man, who suffered major injuries and died at a hospital. The person who ran onto the freeway was 'not being pursued by any DHS law enforcement,' ICE told CNN in a statement. '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.' California Highway Patrol, which is investigating the incident, said it was not given reports from federal officials about the incident and was not informed in advance of raids in the area. 'CHP can confirm that the incident occurred within the vicinity of a federal enforcement operation,' the highway patrol said in a news release Friday night. 'However, CHP cannot confirm the connection between the enforcement operation and the fatality at this time.' On Friday, dozens filled the Monrovia Home Depot parking lot in a somber march mourning the loss of Montoya Valdés. 'We're here to just to lift up his humanity, to say his name … and to say that this cannot happen anymore,' Rev. Francisco Garcia, who co-chairs the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles' Sacred Resistance ministry, told CNN affiliate KCAL/KCBS. Home Depot locations increasingly have become targets for immigration raids as the Trump administration amps up deportation operations as part of a broader crackdown. The home improvement retailer traditionally has been a place documented and undocumented day laborers gather to pick up jobs as roofers, painters and construction workers. Thursday's death followed that of a farmworker fatally injured in a fall during a chaotic ICE raid in July at a California cannabis facility. It also came as the Trump administration asks the Supreme Court to halt an order barring immigration authorities from stopping or arresting people in and near Los Angeles based solely on factors like what language speak or where they work. At least 10 people were detained in the ICE operation in Monrovia, said California Assemblymember John Harabedian, whose district includes the city. He called the incident 'frightening and chaotic,' adding in a statement: 'Raids like this do not make our streets safer – they terrorize families, instill fear, and put lives at risk.' Home Depot wasn't 'notified that ICE activities are going to happen and we aren't involved in the operations,' the retailer told CNN on Thursday. The National Day Laborer Organizing Network said it has connected with Valdés' family to provide support following his death. 'We also want to support the workers who witnessed and experienced this horrible raid and tragic death,' said the group, which advocates for day labourers, migrants and low-wage workers.
