Authorities say about 200 immigrants were arrested in raids on 2 Southern California farms
CAMARILLO Calif AP Federal immigration bureaucrats mentioned Friday they arrested about immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally in raids a day earlier on two California cannabis farm sites Protesters engaged in a tense standoff with executives during an operation at one of the farms The Department of Homeland Protection revealed in a report that executives executed criminal search warrants in Carpinteria and Camarillo California on Thursday They arrested immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally and there were also at least immigrant children on site the comment noted Four U S citizens were arrested for assaulting or resisting officers the department reported Officials were offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of one person suspected of firing a gun at federal agents One worker who called family to say he was hiding from officials was on life sponsorship after falling and suffering important injuries During the raid crowds of people gathered outside Glass House Farms in Camarillo to seek information about their relatives and protest immigration enforcement Leadership clad in military-style helmets and uniforms faced off with the demonstrators Acrid green and white billowing smoke then forced population members to retreat Glass House a licensed California cannabis grower disclosed in a announcement that immigration agents had valid warrants The company noted workers were detained and it is helping provide them with legal representation The farm also grows tomatoes and cucumbers Glass House has never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors the declaration noted It is legal to grow and sell cannabis in California with proper licensing The state s Department of Cannabis Control announced they observed no minors on the premises during a site visit to the farm in May After receiving another complaint the department opened an advancing scrutiny according to a department spokesperson Worker gravely injured At least people were injured during the raid and protest noted Andrew Dowd a spokesperson for the Ventura County Fire Department Eight were taken to St John s Regional Clinical Center and the Ventura County Health Center and four were treated at the scene and disclosed Dowd mentioned he did not have information on the extent of the injuries of those hospitalized On Friday about two dozen people waited outside the farm to retrieve the cars of loved ones and speak to managers Relatives of Jaime Alanis who has picked tomatoes at the farm for years reported he called his wife in Mexico during the raid to tell her immigration agents had arrived and that he was hiding with others inside the farm The next thing we heard was that he was in the hospital with broken hands ribs and a broken neck Juan Duran Alanis brother-in-law announced in Spanish It was not this instant clear how Alanis was injured A medical expert at Ventura County Healthcare Center stated the family that those who brought Alanis to the hospital announced he had fallen from the roof of a building Alanis had a broken neck fractured skull and a rupture in an artery that pumps blood to the brain stated his niece Yesenia who didn t want to share her last name for fear of reprisal He is on life encouragement she noted They described us he won t make it and to say goodbye Yesenia revealed crying The hospital did not right now respond to requests for comment Confrontation with executives Relatives and advocates headed to the farm about miles kilometers northwest of downtown Los Angeles to try to find out what was going on and began protesting outside Federal government formed a line blocking the road leading through farm fields to the company s greenhouses Protesters were seen shouting at agents wearing camouflage gear helmets and gas masks The billowing smoke drove protesters to retreat It wasn t clear why personnel threw the canisters or if they circulated chemicals such as tear gas Ventura County fire functionaries responding to a call of people having trouble breathing commented three people were taken to nearby hospitals At the farm agents arrested workers and removed them by bus Others including U S citizens were detained at the site for hours while agents investigated The happening came as federal immigration agents have ramped up arrests in Southern California at car washes farms and Home Depot parking lots stoking widespread fear among immigrant communities Federal investigations The Department of Homeland Safety disclosed in a comment Friday that the analysis into immigration and possible child labor violations at the farm is ongoing No further details of the accusations were provided The agency reported hundreds of demonstrators attempted to disrupt the operations leading to the arrest of four Americans We will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law anyone who assaults or doxes federal law enforcement Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin revealed in a report Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Demarcation Protection were both part of the operation the announcement reported President Donald Trump commented he has ordered DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and White House margin czar Tom Homan to direct ICE agents to use whatever means is necessary going forward when dealing with violent protesters I am giving Total Authorization for ICE to protect itself just like they protect the Populace Trump mentioned in a social media posting Friday evening White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson in a announcement blamed violent leftists and Democrats for the Camarillo development and other assaults on ICE agents in fresh weeks Family members search for answers The mother of an American worker explained her son was held at the worksite for hours and stated her agents took workers cellphones to prevent them from calling family or filming and forced them to erase cellphone video of agents at the site The woman revealed her son stated her agents marked the men s hands with ink to distinguish their immigration status She spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because she feared reprisals from the leadership United Farm Workers commented in report that chosen U S citizens are not yet accounted for Maria Servin explained her son has worked at the farm for years and was helping to build a greenhouse She explained she spoke to her son who is undocumented after hearing of the raid and offered to pick him up He disclosed not to come because they were surrounded and there was even a helicopter That was the last time I spoke to him Servin a U S citizen reported in Spanish She noted she went to the farm anyway but federal agents were shooting tear gas and rubber bullets and she decided it was not safe to stay She and her daughter returned to the farm Friday and were informed her son had been arrested Thursday They still don t know where he is being held I regret times that I didn t help him get his documents Servin stated Taxin disclosed from Orange County California and Rodriguez released from San Francisco Source
