Calls to Boycott Home Depot Increase Amid ICE Raids

Home Depot is speaking out about allegations that it is working directly with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, as consumers call for a boycott of the retailer. Read on for the details of this developing story.

Home Depot Boycott Calls Increase

Several worksite ICE raids at various Home Depot locations throughout the country have led to increasing calls for consumers to boycott the home improvement giant. Protests have been unfolding in recent days at Home Depot locations in Chicago and Charlotte. Both of these cities have been the target of ICE operations recently, creating unrest throughout the large metro areas.

Home Depot is now starting to respond to the allegations. The company most recently responded to a user on X saying that they are not coordinating with ICE. The comment came after a post from the user accusing the company of cooperating with ICE officials.

A company spokesperson also confirmed that they are not notified in advance when ICE activities are going to occur. The official added that employees have been instructed not to engage with the ICE agents for their own safety. Home Depot employees have also reportedly been told to report incidents on company grounds immediately.

One of the key tenets of President Donald Trump's second term in office has been an emphasis on immigration enforcement. The Trump administration is defending the mass deportations, saying that they are committed to simply deporting the "worst of the worst." However, detention data reported by the AP shows that many of those detained have not been convicted of any crimes. In addition, a recent analysis by NPR found that deaths of individuals while in ICE custody have hit record levels this year.

More on Home Depot's Response to the Allegations That it is Cooperating with ICE

Although Home Depot continues to deny that it is directly involved in the increase of detainments on its properties, protesters say that the company has the responsibility of protecting people on its premises. The protesters are asking Home Depot to do more to protect people who have been targeted by the ICE raids.

A protest organizer in Chicago said her group hopes that Home Depot would want to protect itself, its employees, and its customers. The No Kings resistance group has organized a boycott of the company beginning Thanksgiving and lasting through Cyber Monday. The group that also organized the October protests that attracted millions of people across the U.S. is accusing Home Depot of "colluding with ICE."

The separate "We Ain't Buying It" campaign is also planning a similar boycott of Home Depot over the Thanksgiving holiday. This group said that the company is “allowing and colluding with ICE to kidnap our neighbors on their properties.” The group also said on its website that the company is allowing agents to "illegally detain and kidnap laborers from their stores." In the past, it was not unusual for workers to congregate in Home Depot parking lots looking for work for the day.

The Latino Union of Chicago is also demanding that Home Depot protect its employees and not partner with ICE. However, Home Depot said that it is required by law to follow all federal and local rules.

The planned boycott could not come at a worse time for Home Depot. The retailer missed both sales and earnings targets during the most recent quarter. Company executives blamed sluggish consumer spending paired with a weaker housing market when detailing the losses in last week's quarterly report. Home Depot also noted that a lack of storms brought demand down during the third quarter, impacting its full-year profit outlook. It was an eerily quiet tropical weather season this year, with no hurricane landfalls in the U.S.

The company revised the outlook for the rest of the year following the release of the poor third-quarter results. The retailer now expects its adjusted earnings per share to slip by approximately 5% year-over-year. This compares to the previous prediction of a 2% drop. The new outlook details that total sales are expected to grow by about 3%, up from 2.8% from its previous guidance.

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