Man dies fleeing from alleged immigration agents on Los Angeles freeway

A man tragically died on Thursday after being hit by a vehicle on the 210 Freeway as he attempted to escape from a perceived immigration raid at a Home Depot store in Monrovia, California.

According to Fox News, the incident has raised concerns regarding both the presence and role of immigration officials, even though agencies deny prior knowledge of the sequence of events.

The incident unfolded on a Thursday morning in the suburb of Monrovia, located just outside Los Angeles. Police received calls about the presence of immigration agents at the local Home Depot, sparking panic among those present at the store, including day laborers. Reports indicated that individuals started to shout warnings, urging others to run from the store premises.

Panic Erupts and Leads to Tragedy

A day laborer at the site recalled the chaos, mentioning that people began yelling for others to “run” amidst the perceived threat of an immigration crackdown. Among those fleeing, one man made the desperate decision to escape on foot.

This man, in his attempt to evade what he thought was an enforcement operation, vaulted over a concrete barrier and entered the busy eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway. His daring escape tragically resulted in him being struck by a passing vehicle.

Emergency responders from Monrovia Fire & Rescue hurried to the scene to address reports of a pedestrian being hit. Despite their efforts to rush the injured man to a hospital, he subsequently died from his injuries.

Immigration Authorities Deny Involvement

The Department of Homeland Security quickly responded to circulating concerns about its involvement. They stressed that their personnel had not been pursuing the decedent. A department representative revealed they were not informed of the incident until hours after it had transpired.

Further clarifying their position, a DHS spokesperson remarked that there had been no chase involving their agents, and they had no knowledge of the man’s immigration status prior to being brought up to speed by the California Highway Patrol.

The unexpected death of the man had an immediate ripple effect through the community. Monrovia resident Karen Suarez, visiting the Home Depot during the aftermath, met the daughter of the man who had died.

Community Outcry and Demonstrations Follow

Suarez shared her emotional reaction to the tragic scene, expressing sympathy: “I feel so bad for her. I feel so bad for the families. These are people trying to escape whatever horrible atrocities they came from for a better life.”

Simultaneously, anger and frustration led to a public demonstration being staged outside the Home Depot store. A crowd of approximately 50 people gathered to express their discontent.

Protesters waved Mexican flags and hoisted signs calling for the expulsion of immigration enforcement from Los Angeles, displaying messages like “ICE out of L.A.” Their voices underscored the community’s fear of immigration operations and their potential consequences.

Public Concerns and Future Implications

The tragic and sudden loss of life in this incident has highlighted the tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in local communities. The panic that ensued at the Home Depot exemplifies the heightened anxiety experienced by individuals who fear immigration raids.

Although federal authorities denied involvement and pursuit, the unfolding events exhibited the significant influence such operations, or even their perception, can have on immigrant communities.

This fatal occurrence has prompted calls for greater transparency and dialogue between residents and immigration authorities to ease tensions and prevent similar tragedies from occurring.