Federal agents conducted an immigration enforcement operation at a cannabis farm in Ventura County on Thursday that led to a clash with demonstrators.
The operation was taking place at Glass House Farms along Laguna Road near Camarillo. AIR7 was over the scene surrounded by fields as federal agents formed a line across the street.
Glass House Farms bills itself as the largest cannabis growing operation in the world, employing hundreds of people. Border Patrol says it served a warrant on the farm because it is accused of hiring and harboring undocumented workers. The massive operation reportedly involves ICE and the National Guard.
At one point, a group of protesters was seen facing off with agents, some of whom threw smoke canisters and flash bangs towards the growing crowd.
The protest continued past 11 p.m. Thursday. Federal agents were also still at the scene.
“We were speaking our mind like we can as U.S. citizens. We got tear-gassed… I got hit with a paintball. This is not OK,” said one demonstrator. “This is what we need to be doing as people — coming together against them, the tyranny. They are evil.”
“This is really sad to know that this is going on right now, when supposedly it was supposed to change,” said another. “This is insane you know.”
The situation escalated when more smoke canisters were launched, sending the crowd of protesters running in the opposite direction. The Ventura County Fire Department was seen near the site providing treatment for those affected by the smoke and tear gas.
“The Ventura County Fire Department was dispatched at approximately 12:15 pm on Thursday, July 10th to provide medical aid as a result of federal enforcement activity along Laguna Road in the Oxnard Plains. VCFD was requested through our county’s 911 system solely to provide medical aid and has no connection with any federal immigration enforcement actions,” the agency said in a statement.
After tear gas was deployed, several people were seen throwing what looked like rocks back at the agents.
During the chaotic moments, AIR7 captured one of the people gathered at the demonstration allegedly firing a gun towards federal agents. This happened after the agents fired smoke canisters at the crowd. There were no reports of any injuries.
The FBI has now launched an investigation into the alleged shooting and is offering a reward up to $50,000 for information leading to a conviction.
Another moment saw a woman holding a flag standing in front of an advancing military vehicle in what appeared to be an attempt to stop it. At times, it looked as though the woman was poking the passing military vehicles with the flag.
A few minutes later, a man tried to stop a military vehicle by stepping in front of it, but the vehicle kept moving. Eventually, the man moved to the side but not before throwing what appeared to be a bottle of water at the windshield.
Just before 2:30 p.m., several federal agents fired more smoke canisters towards the crowd, only to have the wind blow the majority of that smoke back on the agents. The move, however, led to the crowd momentarily dispersing from the street, allowing several federal vehicles to drive away from the area, past the protesters.
Shortly after 5:30 p.m., multiple individuals were seen throwing rocks at federal vehicles at close range, as the caravan attempted to drive away from the area.
AIR7 spotted dozens of people lined up outside one of the farm’s facilities as several federal agents stood in front of them. Minutes later, several people were seen sitting under a semitrailer with agents around them. At least one U.S. Marshal’s bus and several unmarked vans were seen on the property.
Video shows numerous workers being taken into custody at the scene. It’s unclear exactly how many were detained. It’s also unclear how long federal agents will be at the farm.
According to CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott, 10 undocumented juveniles were found at the cannabis facility. He alleges the business is now under investigation for child labor violations.
Camarillo City Councilmember Dr. Martita Martinez-Bravo explained how the immigration enforcement at these agricultural sites can have a far-reaching impact.
“We are in serious trouble. The farmworking community, the agricultural workforce, was already struggling. They’ve already been struggling to get workers out on the field. and now with these additional tactics being utilized by the federal government unfortunately, somebody’s gonna have to pay the price and I think that might be us and that will also be the agricultural growers who’s food may rot. I mean, who’s gonna be picking your fruit and your veggies and sadly now every time that we sit down to eat I want people to remember that it is being harvested under real serious conditions of trauma and terror,” said Martinez-Bravo.
She said back in June, there was an immigration raid where more than 40 farm workers were taken, but this is the first time she’s seen tear gas being deployed during these raids in Ventura County.
Federal agents also carried out an immigration raid at the Glass House Farms cannabis nursery in Carpinteria earlier in the day.
A large crowd gathered at Foothill and Casitas Pass Road for about two hours.
At least 10 people were reportedly detained in that operation.
U.S. Congressman Salud Carbajal was denied entry when he tried to get past federal agents into the farm.
In a statement, Carbajal called this completely unacceptable and said he would be demanding answers from Homeland Security.
