Advocates Rally for Release of Detained Day Laborers in Pomona

Detention and Bond Hearing

• 📢 Advocates, including the Pomona Economic Opportunity Center, gathered at Pomona City Hall to demand the release of three day laborers detained by Border Patrol.
• 🗓️ The three individuals, Jesús Domingo Ros, Johnny Ronaldo García, and Edwin Roberto Juárez, were detained on April 22nd outside a Pomona Home Depot.
• ⚖️ A bond hearing was held, but the attorney argued the individuals do not qualify for a bond hearing, seeking expedited removal instead.

Due Process and Community Ties

• ❓ Immigration judges consider flight risk and national security/public safety threats for bond hearings.
• ✅ Advocates assert these three men are neither, citing their commitment to attend court and lack of criminal records.
• 🤝 The detained men have deep community ties, with elected officials and their staff providing support and letters.

Transparency and Ongoing Concerns

• 🔍 There is a perceived lack of transparency from ICE, and advocates are calling for due process to be respected.
• 📅 The bond hearing was postponed to Friday, giving ICE's lawyer more time to prepare, which advocates view as a delay tactic.
• 📢 The administration has not been transparent about the total number of day laborers detained, with initial reports of 10, but first-hand accounts suggesting more.

Demands and Community Support

• ✊ Organizations are demanding the immediate release of all detained day laborers, emphasizing that seeking work is a constitutional right.
• 🗣️ They are asking the community to support by calling the Imperial Regional Detention Facility, signing petitions, and donating to the legal defense fund.
• 🚫 Being a day laborer is not a crime, and the demand is for release now.

Broader Advocacy and Support

• 🏛️ Representatives from elected officials' offices, including Supervisor Solís, expressed support for the detained individuals.
• ✊ The IC4 Coalition for Justice is mobilizing to inform the community of their rights, host workshops, and organize direct action to advocate for pro-immigrant policies.
• 🤝 The coalition emphasizes that immigrants contribute significantly to the economy, culture, and fabric of the country, and policies should focus on care and relief, not punishment.