Federal immigration agents, with support from the National Guard, conducted coordinated raids at two Southern California cannabis farms, arresting dozens of individuals, including undocumented minors, the Department of Homeland Security noted on Friday.
The operation sparked violent clashes with officers and drew several hundred protesters who somehow showed up after immigration agents arrived, KTLA reported.
The immigration sweeps took place simultaneously at around 8:30 a.m., targeting Glass House Farms in Camarillo and another facility about 35 miles north in Carpinteria.
In Camarillo, aerial footage from the outlet’s Sky5 captured a heavy federal law enforcement presence in the fields as agents detained workers while crowds of protesters began to gather.
Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott posted on X that 10 undocumented minors were discovered at the Camarillo farm, including eight unaccompanied children. He added that Glass House is now under investigation for potential child labor violations.
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He also took a verbal potshot at California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who appears to be gearing up for a 2028 presidential bid. He wrote: “This is Newsom’s California.”
After the raid, Newsom took to social media to criticize the Trump administration and the immigration enforcement action, leading the Department of Homeland Security’s X account to simply reply: “Why are there children working at a marijuana facility, Gavin?”
“The Biden administration lost ~300,000 unaccompanied children—many of these innocent children were trafficked and exploited,” DHS also posted on X. “At the Ventura, California marijuana facility, [ICE] and [CBP] law enforcement rescued 8 unaccompanied migrant children from what looks like exploitation, violation of child labor laws and potentially human trafficking or smuggling.”
“Unaccompanied migrant children shouldn’t be forced into labor at California marijuana facilities,” the DHS account added, along with a historic sketch of a man stepping up in a town hall meeting to voice his opinion.
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli confirmed the operation in a post on X. “Federal agents are executing a search warrant at this marijuana farm,” he wrote. “Agents have already arrested multiple individuals for impeding this operation and will continue to make arrests. Don’t interfere. You will be arrested and charged with a federal offense.”
The situation intensified around 12:35 p.m. when authorities deployed tear gas and less-lethal rounds into crowds of protesters who had blocked both the northbound and southbound lanes of Laguna Road.
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Later, Essayli posted a video to X showing what looks like a man firing at federal agents.
“[The] FBI has issued a $50,000 award for information leading to the conviction of an Unknown Subject who appeared to fire a pistol at Federal Law Enforcement Officers near Camarillo,” he wrote. “The shooting occurred on 7/10/25 at approximately 2:26 p.m. on Laguna Rd between Wood Rd and Las Posas Rd.”
On Friday, meanwhile, President Donald Trump stated that he has given federal immigration agents “total authorization” to protect themselves following clashes with protesters during an enforcement operation at a cannabis farm in California.
“I am on my way back from Texas, and watched in disbelief as THUGS were violently throwing rocks and bricks at ICE Officers while they were moving down a roadway in their car and/or official vehicle. Tremendous damage was done to these brand new vehicles,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“Therefore, I am directing Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, and Border Czar, Tom Homan, to instruct all ICE, Homeland Security, or any other Law Enforcement Officer who is on the receiving end of thrown rocks, bricks, or any other form of assault, to stop their car, and arrest these SLIMEBALLS, using whatever means is necessary to do so,” Trump added.
