Community Vigil Planned Today After ICE Detains Six Car Wash Workers in Pasadena

A community vigil and fundraiser will be held Thursday evening in response to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid that resulted in the detention of six car wash workers last week in Pasadena.

The incident occurred shortly before noon on Friday, Aug. 22 at the Pasadena Car Wash, located at 164 W. Del Mar Blvd. near Old Pasadena. According to organizers, seven employees were initially detained by individuals believed to be ICE agents. One worker was released shortly after the operation, while six others were taken into custody. No Pasadena police officers were present or witnessed the raid.

The National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), a Pasadena-based nonprofit advocating for immigrant and low-wage workers, announced the vigil as part of a broader community response. The event, titled “Vigil for Justice,” is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at the site of the raid. Attendees are encouraged to bring candles and join in solidarity.

“This cruel enforcement action will be met with love, courage, and collective power,” NDLON said in a statement.

In addition to the vigil, a fundraising campaign will run from August 28 through August 31 during business hours at the car wash. Community members are invited to wash their cars and donate to support the families of the detained workers. All proceeds will go directly to those impacted.

The event is being organized by NDLON, the CLEAN Carwash Worker Center, the Pasadena Community Job Center, and other community allies. Organizers say the action is a response to what they describe as targeted enforcement against immigrant workers.

“An attack on one is an attack on all,” the NDLON statement read.

The car wash’s owner and manager were reportedly “visibly shaken” following the raid, and families of the detained workers gathered at the scene alongside nonprofit groups offering support.

NDLON maintains a national presence but has deep roots in Pasadena, where it operates a local office and serves as a hub for organizing and advocacy efforts.

The vigil and fundraiser aim to raise awareness, demand accountability, and affirm the dignity of all working people in the community.