Federal immigration authorities mentioned Friday they arrested about 200 immigrants suspected of being within the nation illegally in raids a day earlier on two California hashish farm websites. Protesters engaged in a tense standoff with authorities throughout an operation at one of many farms.
The Division of Homeland Safety mentioned in an announcement that authorities executed felony search warrants in Carpinteria and Camarillo, California, on Thursday. They arrested immigrants suspected of being within the nation illegally, and there have been additionally a minimum of 10 immigrant kids on web site, the assertion mentioned.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Safety had been each a part of the operation, the assertion mentioned.
Two DHS officers advised CBS Information on Friday that federal brokers had felony warrants associated to the harboring and employment of immigrants within the U.S. illegally when conducting the operation on the hashish farm.
4 U.S. residents had been arrested for “assaulting or resisting officers,” the division mentioned.
“We are going to prosecute to the fullest extent of the regulation anybody who assaults or doxes federal regulation enforcement,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin mentioned within the DHS assertion.
BLAKE FAGAN/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Authorities had been providing a $50,000 reward for data resulting in the arrest of 1 individual suspected of firing a gun at federal brokers. Some protesters had been additionally captured on video throwing rocks.
Throughout the raid, crowds of individuals gathered outdoors Glass Home Farms in Camarillo to hunt details about their kinfolk and protest immigration enforcement. Authorities clad in military-style helmets and uniforms confronted off with the demonstrators. Acrid inexperienced and white billowing smoke then pressured neighborhood members to retreat.
In a post to Fact Social on Friday night time that seemed to be in reference to the violence throughout the Camarillo protest, President Trump mentioned he was “directing Secretary of Homeland Safety, Kristi Noem, and Border Czar, Tom Homan, to instruct all ICE, Homeland Safety, or every other Legislation Enforcement Officer who’s on the receiving finish of thrown rocks, bricks, or every other type of assault, to cease their automobile, and arrest these SLIMEBALLS, utilizing no matter means is critical to take action.”
Glass Home, a licensed California hashish grower, mentioned in an announcement that immigration brokers had legitimate warrants. The corporate mentioned employees had been detained, and it’s serving to present them with authorized illustration. The farm additionally grows tomatoes and cucumbers.
“Glass Home has by no means knowingly violated relevant hiring practices and doesn’t and has by no means employed minors,” the assertion mentioned.
It’s authorized to develop and promote hashish in California with correct licensing.
The state’s Division of Hashish Management mentioned it “noticed no minors on the premises” throughout a web site go to to the farm in Could 2025. After receiving one other criticism, the division opened an lively investigation, in keeping with a division spokesperson.
On Friday night time, a federal choose ordered the Trump administration to briefly halt immigration raids in Southern California in response to a lawsuit from the ACLU and immigrant rights teams.
A number of damage throughout Camarillo farm raid
Not less than 12 individuals had been injured throughout the raid and protest, mentioned Andrew Dowd, a spokesperson for the Ventura County Fireplace Division. Eight had been taken to St. John’s Regional Medical Heart and the Ventura County Medical Heart, and 4 had been handled on the scene and launched. Dowd mentioned he didn’t have data on the extent of the accidents of these hospitalized.
The hospital didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
The United Farm Staff union mentioned on social media that one of many Camarillo farm employees had died from accidents suffered throughout the raid. Nevertheless, the household of the employee took to social media to refute that, writing that he remained hospitalized on life help.
In a post to social media on Friday night, the Division of Homeland Safety mentioned the critically injured employee in query “was not in and has not been in” the custody of Customs and Border Safety or Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“Though he was not being pursued by regulation enforcement, this particular person climbed as much as the roof of a inexperienced home and fell 30 toes,” DHS mentioned. “CBP instantly referred to as a medivac to the scene to get him care as rapidly as doable.”
Protesters conflict with federal immigration brokers
Relations and advocates headed to the farm about 50 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles to attempt to discover out what was occurring, and started protesting outdoors.
Federal authorities fashioned a line blocking the street main by farm fields to the corporate’s greenhouses. Protesters had been seen shouting at brokers carrying camouflage gear, helmets and gasoline masks. The billowing smoke drove protesters to retreat. It wasn’t clear why authorities threw the canisters or in the event that they launched chemical compounds comparable to tear gasoline.
Ventura County fireplace authorities responding to a 911 name of individuals having hassle respiratory mentioned three individuals had been taken to close by hospitals.
On the farm, brokers arrested employees and eliminated them by bus. Others, together with U.S. residents, had been detained on the web site for hours whereas brokers investigated.
A number of employees hid all through the farm throughout the raid, rising Friday morning. They included Jesus, whose niece, Jennifer Martinez, spoke to CBS Information.
“They’re simply right here working, residing,” Martinez advised CBS Information. “They’re simply right here tearing households aside and terrorizing them.”
Ruby Ginez advised CBS Information that a number of of her kinfolk labored on the farm.
“An aunt was taken,” Ginez mentioned. “A mother was taken. It may very well be a citizen, not a U.S. citizen, it does not matter.”
Ginez disclosed that she herself was pulled over by ICE lately whereas taking her baby to highschool and needed to show she was a U.S. citizen.
The incident got here as federal immigration brokers have ramped up arrests in Southern California at automobile washes, farms and House Depot parking tons, stoking widespread worry amongst immigrant communities.
