West Hollywood’s City Council voted this week to remove Home Depot from its approved roster of vendors, a move fueled by objections to the Trump administration’s deportation policies.
The left-leaning Los Angeles-area city is now positioned for a possible dispute with the retail giant amid claims that the company has aided Immigration and Customs Enforcement efforts targeting undocumented migrants.
“The one vendor I would like to remove is Home Depot because of their cooperation with ICE immigration enforcement,” Councilmember Chelsea Byers said during Monday’s meeting, according to the WeHo Times.
Dropping Home Depot from the city’s approved list of cooperative purchasing vendors does not amount to a full ban on city purchases from the company. It means West Hollywood can no longer make automatic supply buys from the retailer without first using the standard competitive bidding process.
Other companies that remain on the list are allowed to do business with West Hollywood without undergoing lengthy bid procedures because they have already been reviewed and approved by other public agencies.
City Manager Jackie Rocco said she would take a closer look at West Hollywood’s dealings with Home Depot, while Mayor John Heilman directed city staff to assess the consequences of the removal and outline possible next steps.
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“I know there are concerns about one particular vendor,” Rocco said.
Prior to the change, West Hollywood could authorize purchases from Home Depot of up to $25,000.
The home-improvement chain has adamantly denied having a relationship with ICE and said it even instructs employees to not engage with active law enforcement operations.
Still, the company faced criticism for videos showing ICE agents targeting day laborers who gather in the stores’ parking lots, which have become hotbeds for immigration enforcement activity. Questions have been raised over whether Home Depot shares data with ICE, though the company denies the claims.
The company has said it can’t control what happens on its parking lots.
“Because our stores and parking lots are publicly accessible, law enforcement agents do not require a warrant to enter these areas,” Home Depot says on its website. “We comply with all applicable federal and local laws in every community where we do business.”
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