ICE agents detained at least four workers and one bystander during a Friday morning operation at a car wash on Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica, sparking outrage and fear across the community. The raid occurred shortly after 10 a.m. at the Santa Monica Car Wash, near the intersection of Pico and 25th Street. Witnesses said the agents, some of them masked, arrived in unmarked vehicles and quickly detained several workers, as well as a woman who had been walking through the alley behind Gilbert’s El Indio restaurant.
Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete addressed the incident later that evening, confirming that four employees and one woman not connected to the nearby businesses were taken into custody. “My heart is heavy tonight, and I know yours is too,” she wrote in a statement posted to Instagram. “Let’s stay united, stay calm, and show up tomorrow with empathy and care during the planned protest. We can make our voices heard while keeping our community safe and strong.” Negrete thanked the city’s rapid response volunteers for immediately connecting the families with legal and emergency resources and said fundraising efforts are underway to support those affected.
City officials said they are working with legal aid groups and nonprofit partners to determine how many people were detained and to ensure that affected families receive assistance. Santa Monica has previously declared itself a sanctuary jurisdiction and maintains policies intended to protect immigrant residents from federal immigration actions.
The city’s statement, released Friday afternoon, acknowledged that federal agents had carried out operations at the car wash and possibly other nearby locations. “We understand that these actions have caused anxiety and uncertainty in the community,” officials said. “We stand with everyone in Santa Monica who is concerned, fearful, or grieving. We are committed to ensuring that no one feels isolated and to doing all that is within our power to protect dignity, fairness, and inclusion.”
L.A. TACO and community alert networks confirmed that five ICE vehicles were seen in the area around 10:15 a.m. and that detentions occurred behind the car wash and restaurant. Videos and photos shared online show at least one woman being led away by agents wearing tactical gear. As of Saturday morning, ICE had not issued a public statement about the operation or the status of those detained. Local immigrant-rights organizations and neighborhood volunteers are calling for transparency and urging city leaders to strengthen protections for workers in industries targeted by federal raids.