A Guatemalan national died Thursday after being struck by an SUV while fleeing a federal deportation raid at a Home Depot in Monrovia, California, ABC7 reported.
Authorities identified the man as 52-year-old Carlos Roberto Montoya, who ran toward the 210 Freeway as Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers conducted the raid. He was hit at speeds of 50 to 60 mph and later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
A suspected illegal immigrant is struck and killed by a vehicle when he ran onto the freeway, attempting to evade federal agents conducting an immigration raid at a Home Depot in Monrovia, California. pic.twitter.com/3i9LVeuIaq
— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) August 14, 2025
ICE: “We Weren’t After Him”
In a statement to the Los Angeles Times, ICE said Montoya was not being targeted in the raid and that the agency only learned of his death hours later.
The Guatemalan consulate in Los Angeles said it was in contact with Montoya’s family and would provide assistance.
Democrats Blame Trump, Not Open Borders
Democratic Rep. Judy Chu immediately blamed the Trump administration, claiming Montoya’s death was “a direct result” of Trump’s immigration enforcement.
Critics, however, noted that Montoya wouldn’t have been in that situation at all had Democrats not encouraged illegal immigration.
As Conservative commentator Laura Loomer wrote: “Democrats killed that man by telling him it was ok to come here illegally. If he wasn’t here illegally, he’d likely still be alive.”
ICE Steps Up Enforcement — and Recruitment
The raid at the Monrovia Home Depot resulted in the detention of more than a dozen illegal immigrants.
Meanwhile, ICE is experiencing a surge in applicants, with more than 100,000 Americans applying since July when the agency announced new recruitment efforts.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told Fox News that this is a “defining moment in our nation’s history”, adding:
“Your country needs dedicated men and women of ICE to get the worst of the worst criminals out of our country.”
