28/03/2026
A homeowner in Cambridge, Maryland allegedly hired six Guatemalan workers to repair her roof, then called ICE as the job neared completion, apparently to avoid paying them the $10,000 bill. According to Yahoo News, the homeowner contracted the crew for a roofing renovation worth about $10,000. As the workers were finishing the project, ICE agents arrived on site and detained them, with some still on the roof.
Videos circulating online showed federal agents detaining the men while the job was nearly complete, and the episode quickly became a flashpoint in debates over immigration and labor rights.
According to Wealth of Geeks, one of the workers, Bryan Polanco, livestreamed the incident, capturing the moment ICE agents surrounded the crew. In the video, Polanco accused the homeowner of calling ICE to avoid paying the $10,000 owed.
The footage has been viewed millions of times and turned the Cambridge rooftop into a national story. Legal experts noted that deliberately using immigration enforcement to avoid paying wages could amount to a felony, raising questions about labor exploitation and fraud.
According to International Business Times UK, the crew had spent three days tearing off old shingles and hauling debris before being detained on the final day. Witnesses reported that the homeowner even handed ICE the ladder the workers had been using, enabling agents to climb up and detain them.
This detail fueled further outrage online, as it appeared to show active cooperation with immigration authorities to stop the workers from completing the job and receiving payment.