State senator introduces bill demanding transparency from retailers on immigration raids

MONROVIA, Calif. (KABC) -- A local lawmaker and community activists are calling for accountability from large home improvement retailers for their alleged roles in immigration raids.

The move is in honor of 52-year Carlos Montoya, who was struck and killed while fleeing an ICE raid in August at The Home Depot in Monrovia.

"These companies have a corporate responsibility to ensure that they are keeping customers safe, to ensure that they are keeping the day laborers, that play such an integral role in their economy, safe " said State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-25th District).

Pérez is sponsoring SB 1103, known as the REPAIR Act, that would require large home improvement retailers to publicly report immigration enforcement activity occurring on their premises and to disclose their policies on surveillance data-sharing practices and employee interactions with federal immigration authorities. The bill would also require companies provide the State Attorney General with documentation related to such activity upon receipt of an administrative subpoena.

"What we are asking for is transparency with how this data is being utilized. We are asking when raids occur at facilities like this one -- that that information is being made public," said Pérez.

Montoya's death sparked outrage over ICE's actions and The Home Depot's alleged role.

"They benefit from our money. They take our money. People shop at these stores and the very least that they can do is be truthful for their customer base, be truthful to the communities," said Pablo Alvarado, NDLON, Executive Director.

Montoya, who was from Guatemala, had been in the U.S. for five years.

His heartbroken niece said through a statement, "Remembering my uncle also means taking action. It means recognizing that what happened to our family should never happen."

SB 1103 is set to go before the assembly judiciary committee on Tuesday.