Car‑wash worker advocates describe raids, urge AB 2271 to provide emergency benefits

Flor Melendres, executive director of the Clean Car Wash Workers Center, told the committee that the car‑wash industry — largely small, immigrant‑owned operations employing monolingual Spanish and indigenous workers — has been heavily affected by recent enforcement activity.

Melendres said Clean identified roughly 109 car washes targeted since June and at least 372 car‑wash workers taken from workplaces during raids; the organization reported connecting more than 450 workers to resources and said volunteers and advocacy networks helped return around 35 workers after deportation proceedings were contested.

"Many car washes have shut down," Melendres said, describing on‑the‑ground outreach and rapid‑response work to help affected workers and employers. She urged the Legislature to pass AB 2271 (described in testimony as AB 2,271 by Assemblymember Robert Garcia), a bill that would create emergency financial benefits for families that lost income because of DHS activity.

Why it matters: The car‑wash testimony provided industry‑specific evidence of enforcement impacts and detailed worker outreach efforts already underway. The committee heard requests for legislative support for AB 2271 and for continued funding for worker centers and rapid‑response resources.

The committee did not vote on AB 2271 at the hearing; witnesses asked lawmakers to consider direct financial supports as part of a state response.