Car wash workers join forces with bikini-clad strippers to raise money for people hurt by ICE raids

By Destiny Torres
Published Sep 26, 2025 4:52 PM

Car wash workers join forces with bikini-clad strippers to raise money for people hurt by ICE raids
An unexpected coalition of labor groups joined forces Friday to host a bikini car wash near MacArthur Park and raise money for car wash workers and their families who have been hurt by the ICE raids. The event was in collaboration with the Strippers Co-Op, the CLEAN Carwash Worker Center and CLEAN Wash Mobile Cooperative.

Los Angeles has seen over 88 car washes targeted by agents and over 260 workers detained, according to organizers. Some have signed a “voluntary” departure and are no longer in the country.

“A few of them are still fighting. More than 30 families are connected to us who are fighting that deportation, and we have been successfully able to bring three workers home,” CLEAN executive director Flor Melendrez said. “We wouldn't be able to do that if it weren't for our community support and all the efforts happening around us.

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Carmen Gutierrez, an organizer with CLEAN, said workers are afraid. “Car wash workers have to not only do their job but also be vigilant of their surroundings,” Gutierrez said. “We are hearing of a lot of workers who are leaving the industry because of this.”

Read more: https://laist.com/news/car-wash-workers-strippers-fundraiser-immigration-ice-raids