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Sympthsical

(10,794 posts)
33. Ok, but what has Home Depot actually done here?
Sun Nov 23, 2025, 11:14 AM
Nov 23

I'm a little confused. The article states:

George Lane, manager of corporate communications for Home Depot, said in an email to The Times that “we are not coordinating with ICE or Border Patrol, and we’re not involved in the operations. We aren’t notified that immigration enforcement activities are going to happen, and often, we don’t know operations have taken place until they’re over.


My impression is that ICE targets Home Depot parking lots, because that is where (mainly Latino) day laborers congregate. That is certainly my experience in California and other states. But ICE swooping into the parking lot to have a go at what they think is a target rich environment isn't the same as the company itself taking steps.

If anything, day laborers in the parking lot help Home Depot. People looking for workers are also going to pick up materials while there. Given how synonymous Home Depot has become with the practice, I imagine their financial interest was to turn a blind eye to whatever was happening out in the lot. Which would be the opposite of assisting the Trump administration.

This seems . . . unfocused. I read the article with some protesters' rationales, but it isn't convincing. Like this:

“Day laborers do want people to come out to shop so they can get work,” Andiola said. “This was the way for us to still impact their business and at the same time, give the message that they need to get ICE out of their stores.”


I guess I just don't understand the desire to affect customers and the business. Home Depot has always been really chill about day laborers. ICE isn't in their stores. They're swooping into the parking lots.

I see all kinds of social media accusations that Home Depot is "colluding" with ICE somehow, but I haven't seen any real evidence of it. Just assertions that it's happening. Sounds like people want a target for their anger. They can't affect Trump, but they can go down the street and find a store to be angry at.

I dunno. Activism should have obtainable goals. Activism for the sake of activisting can devolve into futile masturbatory posturing. This Home Depot stuff feels more in that vein. They've bothered customers and sent the company a message that maybe they should be more mindful of what's going on in their parking lots.

Which would seem to veer towards the opposite outcome of what people like Ms. Andiola say they want.

Recommendations

11 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

,, BlueWaveNeverEnd Nov 23 #1
Every HD I've been in has a separate customer service area for returns. MichMan Nov 23 #2
Believe it of not it gets... 2naSalit Nov 23 #5
People don't realize how cold the Pacific coast is. ananda Nov 23 #7
I went to boot camp in San Diego, SarcasticSatyr Nov 23 #11
Many members... 2naSalit Nov 23 #15
Below 50 it is bone-chilling Zambero Nov 23 #20
"Below 50 it is bone-chilling" MichMan Nov 23 #21
Acclimation is real Zambero Nov 23 #25
True for hot weather too. ananda Nov 23 #28
Beach weather at night in the colder months kills me. That is truly bone-chilling but yes, I can attest to how it feels chowder66 Nov 23 #37
Yeah... OldBaldy1701E Nov 24 #73
It's the same in southern florida bedazzled Nov 23 #26
I use one MurrayDelph Nov 24 #67
Did you see how many were in line to buy them? Definitely bogged down purchase lines pattyloutwo Nov 23 #22
Which has nothing to do with returns MichMan Nov 23 #24
This was GOOD MorbidButterflyTat Nov 23 #59
All paying in cash so no card info being provided. Brilliant move! Intentional trouble ie sabotage 📎 Deuxcents Nov 23 #53
There are mountains all around Monrovia. It's only about 12 miles to the closest area to ski. chowder66 Nov 23 #34
I've got a sister that lives over there. I just texted and asked her. Iggo Nov 23 #40
They clog the check out when they buy them. Clog the return counter later fargone Nov 23 #46
Trump haters should move stuff all over the store. Put stuff in the wrong places. Trueblue1968 Nov 24 #66
Who really suffers by this? Mossfern Nov 23 #3
People leave the store because they don't want to wait an hour to make their purchase pattyloutwo Nov 23 #23
It's SoCal. Drive a few miles and you'll run into another Home Depot. Iggo Nov 23 #42
I don't believe... Chemical Bill Nov 24 #68
I do. Iggo Nov 24 #74
Great idea. 👍 Dave Bowman Nov 23 #4
Or just steal them! 31st Street Bridge Nov 23 #6
Ummm, no. AllyCat Nov 23 #8
I'm kidding, of course 31st Street Bridge Nov 25 #78
Uh, no. demmiblue Nov 23 #10
? ? ? Okaaaaay? So now we're advocation theft (criminal behavior) stopdiggin Nov 23 #32
No, "we" aren't MorbidButterflyTat Nov 23 #60
um Skittles Nov 23 #64
If you watch the video NJCher Nov 23 #9
Management will see NJCher Nov 23 #12
Next They can start buying SCREWS in screw you. More screws than ice scrapers. bonniebgood Nov 23 #13
Need to get those big rolling carts and fill them with various random sizes of big lumber and concrete blocks. MichMan Nov 23 #14
Then you're just hurting the employees that have Luz Nov 23 #16
Job security is what I would call it. MichMan Nov 23 #18
Getting "discard" duty was a blessing when I was a grocery checker. CrispyQ Nov 23 #27
Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 23 #56
regard for the employee(s) is clearly NOT a priority here stopdiggin Nov 23 #35
All effective protest is inconvenient for someone. Iggo Nov 23 #43
Its not effective if the only one you hurt or inconvenience is a Luz Nov 23 #48
Do you think the employees putting up with it or the customers waiting in long lines will be more or less likely... MichMan Nov 23 #49
I work in a locally-owned hardware store / lumber yard in California. Don't fucking come to my store and do that. NBachers Nov 23 #17
Is your store cooperating with ICE? MichMan Nov 23 #19
Is Home Depot? They've denied working with ICE EdmondDantes_ Nov 23 #52
Half the employees here would be ICE targets; and a majority of our customers would be ICE targets. NBachers Nov 23 #55
Don't cooperate with ICE, and we have a deal. Iggo Nov 23 #44
You can buy an ice scraper for 17 cents? leftstreet Nov 23 #29
It's probably a Black Friday deal. n/t demmiblue Nov 23 #30
It's probably a plastic piece of crap MorbidButterflyTat Nov 23 #61
Brilliant protest. Love the ice scraper metaphor. Martin68 Nov 23 #31
Ok, but what has Home Depot actually done here? Sympthsical Nov 23 #33
+1. wondered about the (supposed) 'cooperation' implied as well. stopdiggin Nov 23 #38
I really tried to find something before posting Sympthsical Nov 23 #39
appreciate your efforts - and (in large part) agree with your observations. stopdiggin Nov 23 #41
Many boycotts are illogical MichMan Nov 23 #45
+1 leftstreet Nov 23 #47
HD can demand (as ANY private property can)... ret5hd Nov 23 #65
I don't believe that demand has much power behind it EdmondDantes_ Nov 24 #72
I didn't know you could buy ANYTHING for 17 cents anymore! JoseBalow Nov 23 #36
Sorry, to me this just sounds like wasted effort. The mistreated HD employees are not the problem. CaptainTruth Nov 23 #50
This is dumb-only aggravates the employee & makes no real statement-like simple protest sign would. Boxerfan Nov 23 #51
Actually a plastic putty knife sold in paint dept. Devilsun Nov 23 #54
This message was self-deleted by its author MichMan Nov 24 #75
Home Depot has always been BIIG repuglican supporters. mdbl Nov 23 #57
Now THAT is... A_Steel_Magnolia Nov 23 #58
Excellent!!! calimary Nov 23 #62
The cheapest ice scraper at my local HD in Michigan is $3 MichMan Nov 23 #63
I can't believe the number of negative replies to this Betty Boom Nov 24 #69
Hmmm I'm surprised there isn't more. nt Raine Nov 24 #70
I can see less than half of the replies! demmiblue Nov 24 #71
This makes me smile LetMyPeopleVote Nov 24 #76
After watching the video, it is actually a disposable plastic putty knife, not an "ICE scrapper" MichMan Nov 24 #77
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