Raids on Car Wash Workers Spark Controversy in Anaheim

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An immigration raid at a local car wash in Anaheim has raised community concerns and sparked activism.

News Summary

Federal immigration agents conducted a raid at a car wash in Anaheim, resulting in the arrest of Gilberto Gomez-Garcia, an undocumented immigrant who worked there for over 20 years. This incident raises community concerns about immigration enforcement actions targeting workers in the area. Eyewitness accounts reveal a chaotic scene, with Gomez-Garcia sustaining an injury during the arrest. His family initiated a crowdfunding campaign for legal fees while facing opposition during their fundraising efforts. Local activists and city council members criticize the raids, calling into question their impact on public safety and community dynamics.

Anaheim

On July 3, 2023, federal immigration agents conducted a raid at a car wash in Anaheim, leading to the arrest of Gilberto Gomez-Garcia, an undocumented immigrant who has been employed there for over 20 years. This operation is part of a broader pattern of immigration enforcement targeting car wash workers across Southern California, prompting concerns among local communities.

Gomez-Garcia’s family had prepared for the possibility of such a raid, anticipating the potential risks associated with their father’s undocumented status. They created a checklist of precautions and advised him on how to respond during an encounter with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Prior to his arrest, Gomez-Garcia conveyed a troubling dream to his daughter Andrea about being taken by ICE, a nightmare that ominously turned into reality just before the Fourth of July.

The raid occurred shortly after Gomez-Garcia began his shift, resulting in his detention along with at least two other individuals. Eyewitness accounts and video footage captured the chaotic scene, where escalating tensions led a bystander to throw an object at the ICE van, causing a window to shatter and Gomez-Garcia to sustain an eye injury. Following the incident, federal agents transported Gomez-Garcia to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Simultaneously, U.S. Border Patrol agents executed another raid at a different car wash in Anaheim around the same time, leading to further arrests and the temporary closure of that business. Reports indicate that since early June, approximately two dozen car washes have fallen under the scrutiny of immigration enforcement, affecting around 56 businesses and resulting in about 112 arrests within short and rapid operations lasting from five to ten minutes.

Local activists have highlighted that car washes are particularly susceptible to such raids, often characterized as open and accessible venues. The executive director of the CLEAN Car Wash Worker Center emphasized the challenges faced by workers in these environments. Moreover, Anaheim Councilmember Carlos Leon has publicly criticized the recent immigration raids, arguing they do not contribute to public safety and negatively affect community dynamics.

In response to their father’s detention, Gomez-Garcia’s family initiated a crowdfunding campaign, successfully raising over $18,000 to cover legal fees. Additionally, they organized a fundraiser car wash to further support his case. However, they have also encountered opposition, receiving hateful remarks from some individuals during their fundraising efforts.

After his arrest, Gilberto Gomez-Garcia was initially held at an ICE detention facility in Los Angeles before being transferred to the Adelanto ICE Detention Center, where conditions reportedly improved. His medical background includes diabetes, high blood pressure, and seizures, prompting ICE to allow family members to deliver necessary medications and other essential items.

Family members have advised Gomez-Garcia against signing any voluntary deportation papers, expressing deep concerns about the ramifications of such decisions. Andrea described the experience of her father’s detention as akin to “slavery,” highlighting the emotional distress it has caused their family. During a recent visit, she noted that her father remained in the same blue work shirt from the day of his arrest and appeared visibly affected by his eye injury.

Gomez-Garcia’s family continues to grapple with the emotional toll of his detention, with his daughter labeling the situation as “kidnapping.” The ongoing plight of families like Gomez-Garcia’s underscores the broader implications of immigration enforcement actions in local communities.