Federal Raids at California Cannabis Farms Lead to Mass Arrests, Protests, and Clashes

Federal law enforcement officials arrested at least 361 illegal immigrants in raids at cannabis farms in Camarillo and Carpinteria, California, as announced by the Department of Homeland Security on Monday. The raids took place at the end of last week. Among those arrested were individuals convicted of rape, child molestation, and kidnapping. Authorities reported that at least 14 migrant children were rescued from potential exploitation, forced labor, and human trafficking.

During the operation, protesters confronted federal officials as Customs and Border Protection vehicles were present in the agricultural community of Camarillo. Authorities used gas canisters to clear the crowd outside a cannabis farm. California Governor Gavin Newsom responded to the incident, criticizing the images of farm workers and activists running through white smoke. The events and subsequent political responses were covered in an interview with California Republican Steve Hilton on Newsmax.

On Thursday, July 10, 2025, federal immigration enforcement agents conducted raids at cannabis farms in Ventura County and Carpinteria, California, leading to tense confrontations with protesters and public officials. The primary operation took place at Glass House Farms along Laguna Road near Camarillo, which claims to be the largest cannabis growing operation globally. Federal agents formed lines and deployed tear gas and smoke canisters to disperse demonstrators who had gathered to protest. During the event near Camarillo, a man was seen firing a gun toward federal agents after smoke canisters were thrown into the crowd; no injuries from gunfire were reported. The FBI subsequently announced a $50,000 reward for information about the gunman.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott disclosed that 10 undocumented juveniles were found at the farm, and the site is now under investigation for child labor violations. Glass House Brands, the cannabis company owning the farms, stated it fully complied with search warrants. California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned assaults on law enforcement but also highlighted distressing scenes of children exposed to tear gas.

Additional raids in Carpinteria involved ICE and National Guard agents who also used smoke bombs against protesting crowds and detained at least 10 farmworkers. Congressmember Salud Carbajal, present at the Carpinteria raid, was denied entry and criticized the "disproportionate displays of force". Local officials, including Santa Barbara County Supervisor Laura Capps, condemned the raids as terrorizing and divisive actions causing community trauma.

The Ventura County Fire Department provided medical aid to those affected by tear gas and smoke but was not involved in enforcement actions. These raids have intensified debate over federal immigration enforcement practices in California’s agricultural communities, highlighting conflicts between public safety, workers' rights, and immigration policy enforcement.

On Thursday, July 10, 2025, federal immigration agents alongside National Guard personnel carried out raids targeting cannabis farms in Ventura County, specifically near Camarillo and Carpinteria, California. The operations primarily focused on farms affiliated with Glass House Farms. During these raids, at least 10 farmworkers were taken into custody. The events quickly escalated into chaotic clashes between the agents and protesting community members and public officials who had gathered in opposition to the enforcement actions.

Near Camarillo, a person was observed reportedly firing a weapon at federal immigration agents shortly after the agents deployed smoke canisters in an attempt to disperse the crowd. Aerial footage captured the incident, highlighting the tense and dangerous environment. In Carpinteria, ICE and National Guard agents used smoke bombs against large crowds protesting the raids, which transformed a quiet backroad into a volatile scene.

Congressmember Salud Carbajal, who represents the Central Coast, attended the Carpinteria site to oversee the operations but was denied entry by ICE, which he condemned as unacceptable. Carbajal criticized the raids for their "disproportionate displays of force" against local farmworkers and called the actions a misuse of limited resources and a betrayal of American values. He pledged to demand transparency from the Department of Homeland Security regarding the identities of the detained workers.

Santa Barbara County Supervisor Laura Capps also condemned the raids, describing them as "inhumane insanity of military immigration enforcement" and emphasized the community's support for compassion, inclusivity, and immigrants' rights. These events have intensified debate about ICE's tactics under the ongoing administration and raised concerns about the impact on immigrant communities and local agricultural labor forces. The protests and official responses underscore the broader tensions between immigration enforcement policies and community advocacy on the Central Coast of California.

On Thursday, July 10, 2025, federal immigration agents conducted large-scale raids at agricultural farms in Southern California, including a significant ICE operation at Glass House Farms, a 5.5 million square foot indoor cannabis cultivation facility located south of Camarillo in Ventura County. This high-profile raid ignited a multihour confrontation between federal agents and dozens of protesters who gathered to block roads and oppose the immigration sweep. Protesters, some waving Mexican flags and chanting anti-ICE slogans through loudspeakers, faced off against masked federal officers employing crowd control tactics such as non-lethal munitions, flashbang grenades, and gas canisters. Video footage showed federal agents pinning at least one individual to the ground and detaining at least one person during the clashes. Farm equipment was also observed being loaded onto tow trucks at the site.

Glass House Brands Inc., the parent company of the cannabis farm, stated on social media platform X that they "fully complied with agent search warrants," though the exact number of arrests remains unclear. Volunteer Raquel Sanchez, associated with an anti-deportation advocacy group, described the situation as "horrible," with workers inside the facility reportedly tipping off local immigration advocates prior to the raid. Protesters emphasized that those targeted "are not the criminals that Trump said would be targeted," but rather workers forced to risk deportation to sustain their livelihoods.

This raid was one of at least two large-scale immigration enforcement operations that took place in the region that day, with another noted in nearby Carpinteria, California. The recent spike in immigration enforcement actions has prompted coastal town officials to convene meetings to address community concerns. The raids reflect enforcement directives from President Donald Trump for ICE officers to intensify efforts toward the largest mass deportation campaign. The events highlight ongoing tensions between immigration authorities, agricultural businesses, local communities, and immigrant rights advocates in Southern California.