A suspected illegal alien was struck and killed after running onto a freeway in Monrovia, California, while attempting to evade federal immigration agents on Thursday. City officials confirmed the man fled from a Home Depot parking lot where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were conducting an enforcement operation, before darting onto the 210 Freeway and being hit by a passing vehicle.
Monrovia City Manager Dylan Fiek stated that the man likely ran to avoid detection by ICE agents. According to a city press release, Monrovia police were alerted to ICE’s presence at the Home Depot on Mountain Avenue that morning. Shortly after agents began their operation, one individual fled the area on foot, crossed Evergreen Avenue, and ran directly into traffic on the freeway. At 9:52 a.m., emergency crews responded to reports of a vehicle collision with a pedestrian. The man was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died of his injuries. Authorities have not released his identity.
The California Highway Patrol reported that the man was hit by an SUV traveling approximately 50–60 mph. The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.
This incident comes as immigration enforcement has increased across California, with Home Depot locations emerging as common sites for operations due to the presence of day laborers seeking unauthorized employment. In early August, 16 illegal aliens were arrested in Los Angeles during “Operation Trojan Horse,” when Border Patrol agents disguised in a rental truck surprised workers gathered outside another Home Depot.
Federal officials argue that such sites often include individuals with criminal histories. Gregory K. Bovino, commander overseeing federal immigration enforcement in California, noted earlier this month that arrests have included day laborers with records of theft, drug possession, DUI convictions, and prior deportations.
Not everyone has welcomed the enforcement efforts. On Thursday, members of the Party for Socialism and Liberation protested outside the Monrovia Home Depot, chanting against ICE and holding signs that read “ICE Out of Our Communities.” Homeland Security has indicated that nationwide enforcement actions will continue in the coming months.
