Demonstrators Demand Home Depot Condemn ICE Activity
A counter-demonstrator showed up with megaphone and a T-shirt that read 'Don't Attack, Don't Resist, Don't Get Shot.'
On Monday, Presidents Day, dozens of people approached the big-box chain in Berkshire Crossing with "ICE out" signs, chanting "Love not hate makes America great." They took a lap through the aisles and bought symbolic items such as ice scrapers, which they would later return.
Bob Van Olst, of Indivisible Berkshires, said Home Depot's corporate policy has been "very complicit" with masked border patrol agents. Activists say the company removed diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives from its website last year, and that ICE agents have been arresting tradespeople without due process in Home Depot parking lots.
"We understand that over 70 percent of these people have no criminal records, have no gang affiliation. They're just hard-working members of the community trying to make a living, being scooped up and sent off to who knows where," Van Olst said.
"So we're asking Home Depot to cease their cooperation with ICE."
Robin O'Herin, of Stand Up Berkshires, said that to protect immigrant employees, workplaces need "employees only" signs for restricted areas so that ICE can't enter.
"They have none of that. They refuse to put them up," she said. "… and their parking lot is private, and they are happy that Home Depots all over the country plan staging to grab hard-working people and disappear them from Home Depot parking lots."
ICE has focused on the home improvement stores because day laborers often gather there to pick up work, particularly in southern or western states. Home Depot has stated it does not cooperate with ICE, but also cannot prohibit federal officers from entering its stores and parking lots.
Van Olst can hardly believe that, at 78, he is still protesting against the infringement of civil rights.
"It's heartening to see the people are waking up, speaking up, and so forth," he said.
The protest was held by Stand Up Berkshires, Indivisible Berkshires, and the I-90 Berkshire Visibility Brigade. They are asking that Home Depot take "concrete" measures to demonstrate that the values outlined by its founders are honored, including condemning ICE raids at its stores, demanding that Congress pass legislation to safeguard people's rights, providing "employees only" safe spaces, staff training, and legal assistance for detained employees.
They are also asking for the company to publicly recommit to DEI initiatives that were previously in place. The groups wrote a letter to President and CEO Ted Decker, asserting "your company's silence and indifference" is very troubling.
Van Olst can hardly believe that, at 78, he is still protesting against the infringement of civil rights.
"It's heartening to see the people are waking up, speaking up, and so forth," he said.
The protest was held by Stand Up Berkshires, Indivisible Berkshires, and the I-90 Berkshire Visibility Brigade. They are asking that Home Depot take "concrete" measures to demonstrate that the values outlined by its founders are honored, including condemning ICE raids at its stores, demanding that Congress pass legislation to safeguard people's rights, providing "employees only" safe spaces, staff training, and legal assistance for detained employees.
They are also asking for the company to publicly recommit to DEI initiatives that were previously in place. The groups wrote a letter to President and CEO Ted Decker, asserting "your company's silence and indifference" is very troubling.
"Home Depot locations are not just home improvement stores. They are gathering points for day laborers, contractors and immigrant workers seeking honest livelihoods," it reads.
"Your stores are part of the fabric of our Berkshire County, MA community and thousands of others across the country. But right now, because of the company's silence and complicity, that fabric is being torn apart."
Protesters were countered by a man with a megaphone in the parking lot who was praising President Donald Trump while wearing a shirt that appeared to say "Don't attack. Don't resist. Don't get shot." The group was later asked to leave by Home Depot employees, who said they weren't able to provide a comment to iBerkshires.
Gov. Maura Healey and state officials were in Pittsfield on Tuesday, celebrating housing awards at the former Berkshire County Savings Bank. Healey answered off-topic questions from the press afterward, and when asked about ICE, condemned their tactics as being inconsistent with the way any good law enforcement agency should behave.
In late January, she signed an executive order prohibiting the state from entering into any new 287(g) agreements unless there is a public safety need, prohibiting ICE from making civil arrests in non-public areas of state facilities, and prohibiting the use of state property for immigration enforcement staging.
"I don't want state resources used to support ICE," Healey said on Tuesday.
"What ICE is doing right now, it's just terrible. It's been horrible for communities, for families, for cities and states around the country."
"Your stores are part of the fabric of our Berkshire County, MA community and thousands of others across the country. But right now, because of the company's silence and complicity, that fabric is being torn apart."
Protesters were countered by a man with a megaphone in the parking lot who was praising President Donald Trump while wearing a shirt that appeared to say "Don't attack. Don't resist. Don't get shot." The group was later asked to leave by Home Depot employees, who said they weren't able to provide a comment to iBerkshires.
Gov. Maura Healey and state officials were in Pittsfield on Tuesday, celebrating housing awards at the former Berkshire County Savings Bank. Healey answered off-topic questions from the press afterward, and when asked about ICE, condemned their tactics as being inconsistent with the way any good law enforcement agency should behave.
In late January, she signed an executive order prohibiting the state from entering into any new 287(g) agreements unless there is a public safety need, prohibiting ICE from making civil arrests in non-public areas of state facilities, and prohibiting the use of state property for immigration enforcement staging.
"I don't want state resources used to support ICE," Healey said on Tuesday.
"What ICE is doing right now, it's just terrible. It's been horrible for communities, for families, for cities and states around the country."
Later in North Adams, she was hand-delivered a letter asking that she cut off all 287(g) agreements. Greylock Together gathered more than 400 signatures for the letter within 24 hours.
In a September 2025 article, AP News said Home Depot was reportedly mentioned as a target for immigration raids by Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff and chief architect of Trump's immigration policies, earlier this year.
"At least a dozen Home Depot stores have been targeted, some of them repeatedly, in Southern California since the administration stepped up its immigration crackdown this summer," the article reads.
A FAQ page on Home Depot's website denies involvement or coordination with ICE operations, and says agents do not need a warrant to enter Home Depot parking lots because they are publicly accessible.
According to the FAQ, Home Depot's safety protocols are consistent with its longstanding protocols for all law enforcement and protest activities.
"We instruct our associates not to engage with active law enforcement operations to ensure their own safety and seek to manage protests so that they do not disrupt operations or present a danger to our associates or customers," it reads.
"We also provide support and flexibility to associates who may feel uncomfortable working during these times, including the option to go home for the remainder of their shift."
Jonathan Perloe, of the I-90 Berkshire Visibility Brigade, pointed to a quote from Home Depot's founders, Arthur Blank and Bernie Marcus, explaining that the company began with a vision to "create a company that would keep alive the values that were important to us. Values like respect among all people … and giving back to our communities and society."
"Home Depot is not living its values when it doesn't say anything about, essentially, federal secret police coming in and scooping up people regardless of their immigration status," Perloe said.
"And so we're asking Home Depot to live up to its values."
He said that while the company cannot stop ICE from coming into their parking lot, "that doesn't mean they can't say something about it," and allowing employees to go home if they are disturbed by ICE activity is not enough. This is why the group asks that Home Depot offer legal assistance for detained employees and their families.
"At least a dozen Home Depot stores have been targeted, some of them repeatedly, in Southern California since the administration stepped up its immigration crackdown this summer," the article reads.
A FAQ page on Home Depot's website denies involvement or coordination with ICE operations, and says agents do not need a warrant to enter Home Depot parking lots because they are publicly accessible.
According to the FAQ, Home Depot's safety protocols are consistent with its longstanding protocols for all law enforcement and protest activities.
"We instruct our associates not to engage with active law enforcement operations to ensure their own safety and seek to manage protests so that they do not disrupt operations or present a danger to our associates or customers," it reads.
"We also provide support and flexibility to associates who may feel uncomfortable working during these times, including the option to go home for the remainder of their shift."
Jonathan Perloe, of the I-90 Berkshire Visibility Brigade, pointed to a quote from Home Depot's founders, Arthur Blank and Bernie Marcus, explaining that the company began with a vision to "create a company that would keep alive the values that were important to us. Values like respect among all people … and giving back to our communities and society."
"Home Depot is not living its values when it doesn't say anything about, essentially, federal secret police coming in and scooping up people regardless of their immigration status," Perloe said.
"And so we're asking Home Depot to live up to its values."
He said that while the company cannot stop ICE from coming into their parking lot, "that doesn't mean they can't say something about it," and allowing employees to go home if they are disturbed by ICE activity is not enough. This is why the group asks that Home Depot offer legal assistance for detained employees and their families.
Tags: federal officials, ICE,
