California Wildfires: Fear of ICE Delays Reconstruction of Devastated Areas

In Altadena, California, crews of Hispanic workers are rebuilding hundreds of homes destroyed by the Eaton fire. Fear of raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has delayed those construction efforts for over a year.

Immigration raids that halt reconstruction work

Ian Hernández, a foreman from Oaxaca, checks social media every morning before arriving at his job site. He searches to confirm that there are no ICE agents near the property where he supervises the construction of ten homes.

The fear is not unfounded. Immigration agents have appeared at construction sites in Altadena and detained several masons, according to organizations that defend migrants.

«ICE was around the corner,» Hernández said about the warning he received in February. That Saturday, no workers showed up for work.

Fences and locks: how work crews protect themselves

Many homes under construction in Altadena have something in common: two-meter-high chain-link fences, locked even during working hours. «It’s so ICE won’t get in,» explained the manager of one of the job sites.

Other fences display signs with a direct warning about unauthorized entry to private property. The measure seeks to discourage immigration agents from entering without a court order.

José Madera, director of the Pasadena Community Labor Center, stated that ICE agents remained for five consecutive days in Altadena and Pasadena. He said that several contractors stopped showing up to work after those operations.

The official version: what the federal government argues

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintains that ICE workplace raids are a pillar of its immigration strategy. The agency claims they also seek to rescue victims of labor trafficking.

In a written statement, DHS explained that operations aim to dismantle employment networks that affect American workers. The agency argues that these networks also destabilize local labor markets.

State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, a Democrat from the area, characterized the operations as particularly harsh for those helping rebuild the community. Her stance contrasts with the federal government’s official position.

Legal framework: what protects workers during a raid

The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects any person, regardless of immigration status, against searches without a court order. ICE agents need an order signed by a judge to enter private property.

Civil rights organizations remind people that everyone has the right to remain silent when questioned by an immigration agent. They can also ask to see the court order before opening a closed door or gate.

These rights apply to both undocumented people and U.S. citizens. Andrés Rivas, a 70-year-old Salvadoran day laborer and U.S. citizen, said he still fears being detained during a checkpoint.

Other obstacles that delay Altadena’s reconstruction

Fear of ICE is added to other factors that slow the neighborhood’s revival. Construction permits from local government can take up to 125 business days to be resolved.

Insurance settlements also do not cover the total cost of reconstruction for many families. The increase in materials and labor costs worsens the situation.

As of June 19, Los Angeles County had issued 2,845 building permits. However, only 89 homes were ready to be inhabited, out of a total of 6,746 homes destroyed by the Eaton fire.

The case of day laborers detained on the way to work

On June 18, 2025, immigration agents detained three day laborers heading to a job site in Altadena. Pedro Vázquez Perdomo, Isaac Antonio Villegas Molina, and Carlos Alexander Osorto were transferred to the Adelanto detention center.

The three are now leading a lawsuit against the federal government for alleged racist statements made by agents during their arrest. Pablo Alvarado, leader of the National Day Laborers Network, characterized the operations as «immoral, inhumane, cruel, and illegal.»

Marialyce Pedersen, who lost her home in the fire, fears her Salvadoran builder will be detained by ICE. «Hispanic migrants are the ones working hard on the reconstruction,» said the Altadena resident.

What residents and workers can do now

Organizations like the Pasadena Community Labor Center offer free guidance on rights in case of a potential immigration operation. Knowing these protections can prevent unjustified detentions during the work day.

Volunteers patrol some streets in Altadena to alert about suspicious vehicles, though they acknowledge those efforts are not enough. Neighbors and contractors agree that early communication helps protect work crews.

The reconstruction of Altadena will continue as long as fear of raids persists. Families like that of Damon Blount hope to return home before the year ends, if work does not stop again.