ICE agents found themselves engaged in a serious clash between themselves and “protesters” after conducting a raid on a farm in California. On July 10, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, supported by National Guard troops, conducted large-scale immigration raids at two Glass House Farms facilities, one of California’s largest licensed cannabis producers, located in Camarillo, Ventura County, and Carpinteria, Santa Barbara County. The operation, which targeted alleged undocumented workers, led to violent clashes with protesters, multiple injuries, and widespread controversy.
The raid at the Camarillo facility, located along Laguna Road, began around 8:30 a.m., with federal agents arriving in military-style vehicles and tactical gear. Glass House Farms, known for its 5 million square feet of growing space used for cannabis, tomatoes, and cucumbers, confirmed it “fully complied with agent search warrants” but provided no further comment. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated the operation was based on a judicial warrant targeting the farm for employing undocumented immigrants, including 10 undocumented minors, eight of whom were unaccompanied, prompting a child labor investigation.
Hundreds of protesters, including farmworkers, their families, and local activists, gathered to oppose the raid, forming human blockades and confronting agents. Federal authorities responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and smoke grenades, escalating tensions. Videos showed chaotic scenes, with agents firing less-lethal munitions into crowds and one person reportedly held at gunpoint for attempting to record. The Ventura County Fire Department reported three people were hospitalized, and four others were treated at the scene, though it’s unclear whether the injured were workers or protesters. A farmworker at the Carpinteria site reportedly suffered grave injuries after falling several stories from a greenhouse during the operation.
Local officials and community leaders condemned the raid. Camarillo City Councilmember Dr. Martita Martinez-Bravo warned of the “dangerous ripple effect” on the agricultural workforce, already strained by labor shortages. U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal, denied entry to the Carpinteria site, criticized the “militarized raid” involving over 50 ICE agents. California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office called the Trump administration’s tactics “inhumane,” accusing them of sowing “chaos, fear, and terror” in communities.
The operation has reignited debates over immigration enforcement in agriculture. While cannabis is legal in California, it remains illegal federally, complicating the raid’s context. Critics, including the United Farm Workers union, argue such actions disrupt food and cannabis supply chains, while supporters of the raid, citing federal law, claim it addresses illegal hiring practices. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information on a suspect who allegedly fired a pistol at agents during the Camarillo clash, further highlighting the operation’s volatility.
Glass House Farms, a prominent player in California’s cannabis industry, now faces scrutiny for labor practices, with prior lawsuits for violations adding to the controversy. As investigations continue, the raids underscore the deep tensions surrounding immigration policy, labor rights, and federal versus state authority in California’s agricultural heartland.’
SOURCES:
Immigration raids on California cannabis nurseries spark protests By Reuters
Federal agents raid pot farms employing illegal immigrants in California | Fox News
Immigration raids on California cannabis nurseries spark protests | U.S. & World | denvergazette.com
Federal agents clash with protesters during ICE raid at Southern California farm – ABC News
3 taken to hospitals as ICE agents raid massive Calif. cannabis farm
3 taken to hospitals as ICE agents raid massive Calif. cannabis farm
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