A year after the LA fashion company's immigration raid, former workers are still struggling

Last year, on June 6, federal agents arrived at Ambiance Apparel, arresting dozens of workers in one of the largest immigration enforcement actions in Southern California in recent years.

By the end of the day, more than 40 workers, many of them from the Zapotec Indigenous communities, were arrested in an enforcement operation that became the starting point of a summer of immigration protests across Los Angeles.

On Saturday morning, a press conference was held outside Ambiance Apparel to commemorate the actual day. Lazaro, who chose not to reveal his last name due to ongoing concerns for his safety, is a member of Lucha Zapoteca. He was among those arrested and now he is free.

“It was a nightmare,” said Lazaro. “I, along with our family members behind me, were separated from our family members.”

Lucha Zapoteca was formed in the days following the raid, as workers and their families fought for the release of more than a dozen people. The group raised more than $300,000, secured legal representation and helped free 11 people held at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center.

A year later, most of the former workers are still living with the consequences. Some have been deported, others are still in the immigration process, and many families continue to face economic and emotional breakdowns.

“Our fight is not over yet,” said Lazaro. “Our release from imprisonment does not mean that we are free, we are still facing many challenges and restrictions, we are still fighting for life, and our families are still facing trauma separately.”

In the case of one man who was arrested, his two sons are still receiving treatment to deal with the trauma that happened that day.

The father of four, who asked not to be named because he fears the impact it could have on his immigration case, said he now relies on his two oldest children to support the family. He cannot work because of his pending case. His family had to borrow money from loved ones this year to help pay rent and bills.

“Right now my hands are tied, there is nothing I can do for my family,” he said. “Basically I rely on them, they are the head of the family now.

And the father's children are not the only ones suffering from the consequences of the raid.

Yurien, the daughter of Mario, who works at Ambiance and was also arrested, spoke at the press conference and chose not to use her last name. He explained in detail what it was like to see his father tied at the ankles.

Yurien, whose last name was not given, is speaking Saturday outside Ambiance Apparel in the Fashion District about when his father Mario was arrested and detained by ICE last year.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Yurien said his younger brother, who has disabilities, spent months asking his father, unable to understand why he was no longer at home.

“Watching my father imprisoned while we were powerless was one of the most painful things in our lives,” said Yurien. “The emotional and mental impact of that day stayed with our family long after the measure ended. Even after his release.”

Among those gathered at the press conference to advocate for a new emergency relief fund to support those affected by the actions of federal agents was the California Network for Immigrant Worker Justice (CNIWJ).

“We were asking for 500 million dollars from the federal budget to create an emergency fund for our migrant workers affected by the attacks,” said Veronica Alvarado with CNIWJ. “These law enforcement officers have the opportunity to support workers by providing them with financial assistance if they see themselves affected by raids.”

Alvarado criticized Gov. Gavin Newsom for investing so much money in California's rainy day fund, explaining that the migration situation is an emergency that needs attention.

“Families like Yurien's and everyone affected by Lucha Zaopteca should not have to rely on their families alone to find out how to eat,” Alvarado said. “This community contributes to our economy and supports our economy.”

Family members held up their signs to get a photo with the media.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

According to the Department of Homeland Security, Ambiance Apparel remained on ICE's radar after the agency began inspecting the workplace last February. A spokesperson for Homeland Security said that the agency found that 46% of the employees of Ambiance and its related companies were working illegally in the US.

Benjamin Gluck, an attorney representing Ambiance, told the Times that Ambiance “complies with federal and state laws when it hires workers, including laws about how it may screen candidates and documents. Ambiance has always hired only people it believes have a legal right to work in the United States.”

A few months after ICE began the investigation, it descended on Ambiance, arresting more than 40 people, according to some estimates. The Ministry of Defense did not respond to questions about how many workers were arrested that day.

“We lived in a city that claimed to be a sanctuary, however, since June 6, it has continued to fail its immigrant and indigenous communities, the communities that work and their work helps the city to move forward,” said Yurien. What happened that day was an injustice.

When the raid was announced, the crowd of protesters outside the warehouse began to grow. Among them was David Huerta, president of the Service Employees International Union in California, who was arrested and accused of obstructing government authorities during the operation. Huerta is still awaiting trial.

The 46-year-old father, who spoke at Saturday's event, said he has lived in the US for nearly 30 years. He explained that he was held in Adelanto for three months before being released on bond in August, with the help of a group.

“I wouldn't wish what happened to me on my biggest enemy,” he said. “I came out traumatized.”

He had worked at Ambiance for about five years, first stacking boxes of clothes and later moving to ships. Like many bonded laborers, he was the main breadwinner for his family. But when he was finally released from custody, he was unable to work as his immigration case continued.

“It's like I'm locked up, there's nothing I can do,” she said. “My hands and feet are tied, I can't work, I don't leave the house because of the fear of meeting [ICE] again. My children support me.”

Members of the indigenous Zapotec community danced as the Banda Filarmonica Santa Cecilia Los Angeles, made up of affected family members, performed after a press event outside Ambiance Apparel in the Fashion District on Saturday. About 40 employees of Ambiance Apparel, including 14 from the Zapotec community, were arrested by ICE during a raid on the company last year.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

The man's 23-year-old daughter explained that she had no choice. It was something he had to do.

“I had to step into his role,” said his daughter. “It's a lot of responsibility, but we don't like to see it that way, because we do it because we want to be able to help.”

Her two youngest children, now in high school, began therapy last year to deal with the uncertainty.

“They are the ones who suffer the most,” said his father. “My biggest concern right now – apart from my guilt, you might say – is my children. It hurts the rest. It's hard to overcome that experience.”

As he awaits an immigration hearing this summer, he said he feels like he's “in limbo.”

“I don't know if they will let me stay or if they will kick me out,” he said. “I don't want to be separated from my family, I'm doing everything I can to stay with them.”

Although some of the immigrants who were arrested that day have been released, Lucha Zapoteca and its members say they will continue to represent those who are still detained.

“Our strength did not start with this raid, and it will not end here,” said Lazaro. “We want to continue to fight arrests and deportations and make sure everyone is free.”