Federal immigration authorities mentioned Saturday they arrested greater than 300 immigrants suspected of being within the nation illegally in raids Thursday on two California hashish farm websites as protesters engaged in a tense standoff with authorities throughout an operation at one of many farms. One farm employee additionally died after sustaining accidents throughout one of many raids, a member of the family of the sufferer confirmed to CBS Information Saturday.
A senior official with the Division of Homeland Safety mentioned a complete of 319 arrests have been made by federal brokers Thursday at two hashish farms.
In a earlier assertion Friday, DHS mentioned that authorities executed legal 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 youngsters on website, the assertion mentioned.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Safety have been each a part of the operation, Friday’s assertion mentioned.
Two DHS officers informed CBS Information on Friday that federal brokers had legal 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 have been arrested for “assaulting or resisting officers,” the division mentioned.
“We’ll prosecute to the fullest extent of the legislation anybody who assaults or doxes federal legislation enforcement,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin mentioned within the DHS assertion.
BLAKE FAGAN/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Authorities have 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 have been additionally captured on video throwing rocks.
In the course of the raid, crowds of individuals gathered outdoors Glass Home Farms in Camarillo to hunt details about their kin 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 put up to Fact Social on Friday evening that gave the impression 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 automotive, and arrest these SLIMEBALLS, utilizing no matter means is critical to take action.”
Glass Home, a licensed California hashish grower, mentioned in a press release that immigration brokers had legitimate warrants. The corporate mentioned employees have 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 website go to to the farm in Could 2025. After receiving one other criticism, the division opened an lively investigation, in response to a division spokesperson.
On Friday evening, 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.
One employee dies, a number of folks harm throughout Camarillo farm raid, protests
The United Farm Staff union Friday reported the demise of an injured Camarillo farm employee prematurely late Friday, however the Ventura County Medical Middle later issued a press release licensed by the household saying he was nonetheless on life assist. On Saturday, the niece of the farm employee confirmed to CBS Information that he had died.
“With heavy hearts my uncle has handed away,” Yesenia Duran informed CBS Information in a press release Saturday.
The circumstances relating to precisely how he was injured have been unclear, though in a social media put up Friday night, DHS mentioned the employee in query had fallen from the roof a greenhouse. DHS mentioned the employee “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 legislation enforcement, this particular person climbed as much as the roof of a inexperienced home and fell 30 ft,” DHS mentioned. “CBP instantly referred to as a medivac to the scene to get him care as rapidly as doable.”
On Friday, Andrew Dowd, a spokesperson for the Ventura County Fireplace Division, had reported that a minimum of 12 folks have been injured throughout the raid and protest. Eight have been taken to St. John’s Regional Medical Middle and the Ventura County Medical Middle, and 4 have been handled on the scene and launched. Dowd mentioned Friday he didn’t have data on the extent of the accidents of these hospitalized.
The hospital Friday didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
Protesters conflict with federal immigration brokers
Kinfolk 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 shaped a line blocking the street main by means of farm fields to the corporate’s greenhouses. Protesters have 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 substances similar to tear gasoline.
Ventura County hearth authorities responding to a 911 name of individuals having bother respiration mentioned three folks have been taken to close by hospitals.
On the farm, brokers arrested employees and eliminated them by bus. Others, together with U.S. residents, have been detained on the website 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 informed CBS Information. “They’re simply right here tearing households aside and terrorizing them.”
Ruby Ginez informed CBS Information that a number of of her kin labored on the farm.
“An aunt was taken,” Ginez mentioned. “A mother was taken. It could possibly be a citizen, not a U.S. citizen, it would not matter.”
Ginez disclosed that she herself was pulled over by ICE not too long ago whereas taking her little one to high school 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 automotive washes, farms and Dwelling Depot parking tons, stoking widespread worry amongst immigrant communities.
