On Thursday August 4^th in the early morning, various families from Honduras woke up to a raid on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Pomona Police Department. The families who were living in different apartments in Pomona and Montclair didn’t have any idea of what just occurred nor were they given an explanation.

The officers barged into the apartment, knocking down the doors and pointed guns at the families under a dubious search warrant without any identifying information. Officers began shouting, “Somos Policias de ICE (WE ARE ICE POLICE)“ to them without properly identifying themselves. They forced everyone to stand outside the house for up to 6 hours while continuously insulting them with statements that they would be deported back to Honduras. Soon thereafter, they proceeded to arrest 12 individuals leaving behind their families and children. As collateral, the ICE officers took six vehicles, tablets, cash and cellphones without any receipt or guidelines on how to get their belongings back.

Four individuals were released under electronic monitoring but seven remain detained in Theo Lacey and James A. Musik Detention Centers out in Orange County. Two were able to find legal counsel but five remain without an attorney. Advocates and community are now asking for ICE to release the #Honduras5 and return them to their families.

The matter in which ICE, the DMV and the Pomona Police Department managed their operation was abusive and unjust. These families deserve due process and justice not deportation.

We therefore ask that the following individuals be granted prosecutorial discretion and be released at once:

Orlin Bladmir Diaz Orellana                 A#20618088

Eber Virgilio Bonilla Lopez                     A#087516864

Henry Josue Bonilla Lopez                     A#202126883

Lexi Rosibel Bonilla Lopez                     A#206724738

Joel Bonilla Lopez