California farm employee injured in immigration raids dies; Greater than 300 arrested, feds say

Federal immigration authorities stated 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 stated a complete of 319 arrests have been made by federal brokers Thursday on the two hashish farms. 

In a earlier assertion Friday, DHS stated 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 kids on website, the assertion stated.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Safety have been each a part of the operation, Friday’s assertion stated. 

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 stated.

“We’ll prosecute to the fullest extent of the regulation anybody who assaults or doxes federal regulation enforcement,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated within the DHS assertion.

Authorities have been providing a $50,000 reward for info 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.

Through the raid, crowds of individuals gathered outdoors Glass Home Farms in Camarillo to hunt details about their family members 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 submit to Fact Social on Friday evening that seemed to be in reference to the violence through the Camarillo protest, President Trump stated he was “directing Secretary of Homeland Safety, Kristi Noem, and Border Czar, Tom Homan, to instruct all ICE, Homeland Safety, or another Legislation Enforcement Officer who’s on the receiving finish of thrown rocks, bricks, or another type of assault, to cease their automobile, and arrest these SLIMEBALLS, utilizing no matter means is important to take action.”

Glass Home, a licensed California hashish grower, stated in a press release that immigration brokers had legitimate warrants. The corporate stated staff 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 stated.

It’s authorized to develop and promote hashish in California with correct licensing.

The state’s Division of Hashish Management stated it “noticed no minors on the premises” throughout a website go to to the farm in Could 2025. After receiving one other grievance, the division opened an lively investigation, in line with a division spokesperson.

On Friday evening, a federal decide 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 individuals harm throughout Camarillo farm raid, protests

The United Farm Employees union Friday reported the loss of life of a Camarillo farm employee injured through the raid prematurely late Friday, however the Ventura County Medical Heart 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 submit Friday night, DHS stated the employee in query had fallen from the roof a greenhouse. DHS stated 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 regulation enforcement, this particular person climbed as much as the roof of a inexperienced home and fell 30 toes,” DHS stated. “CBP instantly referred to as a medivac to the scene to get him care as rapidly as attainable.”

On Friday, Andrew Dowd, a spokesperson for the Ventura County Hearth Division, had reported that a minimum of 12 individuals have been injured through the raid and protest. Eight have been taken to St. John’s Regional Medical Heart and the Ventura County Medical Heart, and 4 have been handled on the scene and launched. Dowd stated Friday he didn’t have info 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

Relations and advocates headed to the farm about 50 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles to attempt to discover out what was happening, and started protesting outdoors. 

Federal authorities fashioned a line blocking the highway main by way of farm fields to the corporate’s greenhouses. Protesters have been seen shouting at brokers sporting camouflage gear, helmets and fuel 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 reminiscent of tear fuel.

Ventura County fireplace authorities responding to a 911 name of individuals having bother respiratory stated three individuals have been taken to close by hospitals.

On the farm, brokers arrested staff 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 staff hid all through the farm through 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 family members labored on the farm.

“An aunt was taken,” Ginez stated. “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 not too long ago whereas taking her little one 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 heaps, stoking widespread worry amongst immigrant communities.