Roofer Detained by ICE at the U.S. Border
What happened to a friend of mine revealed just how fragile fairness can be — and why it matters more than ever in our industry.
Recently, a roofing contractor friend of mine, who we’ll call ‘Pedro’ to protect his privacy, had an experience at the U.S. border that really disappointed me. Pedro is a hardworking roofing contractor, a proud American citizen, and someone who’s built his business from the ground up.
A few weeks ago, two of his employees accidentally found themselves lost on I-96 running through downtown Detroit, and they ended up on the Ambassador Bridge heading into Canada. Anyone familiar with that route knows, once you’re on it, there’s no turning back, and no way to turn around. Unfortunately, both workers had overstayed their U.S. visas. Not good, but it’s important to note they didn’t cross the border illegally. They came here the right way, through legal channels, and simply fell out of compliance with a complex immigration system.
They were arrested at the border and taken into custody.
Pedro did what any responsible business owner would do: he went to retrieve his company truck. But when he arrived, the situation took a shocking turn. Despite showing his ID and documentation proving he owned the vehicle, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained him, too! They placed him in a holding cell with about 30 other people and took away his cell phone. Leaving him with no way to call anyone or let his family know where he was. Two hours later, they released him and told him to return with notarized paperwork.
When Pedro came back with everything in order, they arrested him again! This time, they accused him of trying to impersonate himself.
Let that sink in. An American citizen, with proper identification, was treated as if he didn’t belong. All because of how he looked, spoke, or what he did for a living. He speaks perfect English and also Spanish, so communication was not the issue.
I can’t help but think: if I were the one who went to pick up that truck, would I have been asked if I spoke English? Would I have been put in a holding cell twice? I doubt it.
It’s a sobering reminder that, even in 2025, bias and broken systems can collide in ways that make good people feel powerless. And it’s unacceptable.
In our industry, the Latino community makes up a large percentage of the roofing workforce. Jobs wouldn’t get done without their grit and workmanship. They are the backbone of so many companies, families, and projects across the country. Stories like Pedro’s shouldn’t happen! Not in our workplaces, not at our borders, and not in a nation that’s supposed to be built on opportunity.
Trent Cotney of Adams & Reese and I will be talking more about this in upcoming conversations — not just about what happened, but about what contractors can do to protect themselves, their businesses, and their people in moments like this.
Because every person deserves to be treated with fairness and humanity, no matter the circumstance. How are you training your people to handle situations like this? I’d love to hear from you.
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