Federal officials have reported the arrest of over 300 undocumented immigrants during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Cannabis County, Ventura County, California, on Thursday.
Christie Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, revealed that 319 individuals were detained at Glasshouse Farms. She noted that law enforcement successfully rescued 14 children who were at risk of forced labor, exploitation, and human trafficking.
This operation ranks among the largest single-state raids in history, second only to the 2019 Mississippi chicken plant incident during the Trump administration, which led to nearly 700 illegal arrests.
Violent clashes erupted during the raid, with protesters reportedly attacking federal agents, leading to one injury. Notably, one detained individual had a violent criminal background, including attempted child exploitation.
CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott highlighted the arrest of a man who had previously been sentenced to seven years for attempted kidnapping and rape, who was working on the same farm as ten children, including a 14-year-old.
Children rescued in the operation were identified as coming from Mexico and Honduras. Authorities are now reviewing the criminal records of all 319 people detained during the raid.
Glasshouse Farms is currently under investigation for potential violations of the Child Labor Act. The company’s co-founder, Graham Farrar, has a history of political donations, including contributions to California Governor Gavin Newsom.
During the operation, there were reports of a worker falling from a greenhouse and dying amid the chaos, along with other individuals launching projectiles at agents as tear gas was deployed.
Amidst the unrest, former President Trump voiced his outrage on social media, advocating for ICE to take necessary measures to protect themselves during such operations, expressing his dissatisfaction with the treatment of law enforcement personnel.
