By Jim Utter
Director of Journalism
The recent uptick in raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents across the country started under newly inaugurated President Donald Trump has hit the car wash industry.
Earlier this week, ICE agents carried out a raid on a popular longtime car wash facility in the Juniata Park section of Philadelphia, Complete Autowash Philly.
The site, which has been in operation for nearly 70 years, remained closed on Wednesday morning and its phone went unanswered.
According to a video circulating online of the event and multiple news reports, ICE agents arrived at the location on Tuesday morning and took seven people into custody.
Just this week, ICE reported more than 3,000 arrests — just shy of 1,000 on Sunday and Tuesday, and nearly 1,200 on Monday.
Neighbors interviewed by NBC and CBS affiliates in Philadelphia said some of those detained had been working at the car wash for several years.
Since President Trump took office earlier this month, his administration has touted its deportation efforts and published new rules making it easier to remove people – part of a flurry of actions to make good on campaign promises to crack down on illegal immigration.
Hours after the reported raid, an immigrant rights group, the New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia, rallied outside of the ICE headquarters in Philadelphia’s.
There was no indication why this specific car wash was targeted.
Complete Autowash Philly’s website says it recently renovated its entire wash and tunnel and revamped its menu offerings.
The site also promotes its use of state-of-the-art equipment and chemicals offerings from Simoniz – for waxes – and Zep Inc., for their Armor All and Rain-X products.
