Federal Agents Conduct Raids on Cannabis Farms in California
Federal immigration officers, along with National Guard troops, carried out raids at two cannabis farms in Southern California on Thursday. The operations resulted in multiple arrests, including undocumented minors, and ignited violent confrontations between protesters and law enforcement.
The raids took place at Glass House Farm in Camarillo and another farm in Carpinteria, about 35 miles away, both starting around 8:30 AM. Footage from Nexstar’s KTLA captured the significant presence of federal agents as hundreds of demonstrators gathered to protest the detentions.
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayri confirmed that search warrants were executed at the marijuana facility. He urged people not to interfere, stating that doing so would result in arrests.
The situation intensified around 12:35 PM when tear gas and non-lethal rounds were deployed against protesters blocking roads in the area.
Later, Essayri posted a video showing an individual allegedly firing a weapon at federal agents, prompting the FBI to issue a $50,000 reward for information leading to the suspect’s conviction.
Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott reported that ten undocumented minors were found at the Camarillo farm, with eight being unaccompanied. He noted that the facility is under investigation for potential child labor violations.
First responders from the Ventura County Fire Department arrived on the scene to treat injuries from the tear gas, setting up a triage area at a safe distance from the ongoing operations. According to reports, at least one person was hospitalized.
Ventura County firefighters clarified that they were present solely to provide medical aid and were not involved with federal immigration enforcement. Sheriff’s deputies managed traffic but also stated they had no role in the federal operations.
By 6:30 PM, about 200 protesters remained at the site, accompanied by federal agents and military personnel. During the chaos, Representative Sardo Carballard attempted to enter the area but was denied access, according to footage from a local news outlet.
In a statement, Carballard expressed concerns about the lack of transparency in enforcement actions since the previous administration’s policies began impacting immigrants in California. He called for answers from the Department of Homeland Security regarding who would be detained and where they would be taken.
As tensions heightened, a DHS official shared a video originally posted by Governor Gavin Newsom, criticizing the treatment of minors in marijuana facilities. Glass House Farms investor Marc Cohodes labeled the raids as “outrageous,” while the farm stated its cooperation with the federal search warrant.
It’s still unclear how many workers and protesters were detained, but the DHS emphasized its commitment to enforcing criminal warrants at marijuana facilities and reiterated that their law enforcement efforts would continue.
