Federal immigration authorities conducted a large-scale enforcement operation Thursday morning at a cannabis cultivation site in Ventura County, California, that ended in a violent confrontation involving tear gas, projectiles and gunfire.
The operation, led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), targeted Glass House Farms in Carpinteria as part of a broader effort to identify and detain individuals believed to be in the country illegally and working without authorization.
The site is located in the state’s agricultural belt, where enforcement activity has increased in recent months.
According to federal officials, ICE agents encountered resistance as they attempted to detain multiple individuals.
Protesters and apparent farmworkers gathered in front of the facility, blocking vehicle access and refusing orders to disperse.
Smoke canisters and tear gas were deployed when the crowd failed to move, and officials say at least one individual fired a weapon during the standoff.
Over 100 individuals were present at the scene, and authorities requested National Guard support.
A white ICE transport bus escorted by a military vehicle was later seen leaving the area with several detainees.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not released the exact number of individuals arrested.
Emergency services in Ventura County declared a mass casualty incident.
First responders treated dozens of people for tear gas exposure, and at least three individuals were transported to area hospitals, according to the Daily Mail.
Video from the scene showed chaotic scenes of shouting, tear gas and people being carried away for medical attention.
Jessica Lopez, whose husband was reportedly inside the greenhouse facility, told local reporters he was hiding during the raid.
“He hasn’t broken any laws,” she said. “He just works here.”
The enforcement action follows an ongoing immigration crackdown across California, where ICE operations have expanded into areas that have previously limited cooperation with federal agencies under state sanctuary laws.
Officials say the operations are focused on identifying unauthorized workers at sites where labor law violations are suspected.
Local officials and advocacy groups criticized the timing and scale of the raid.
Ventura County Democratic Party Chair Steve Auclair said his mother was struck by a gas canister during the incident and referred to the raid as “a military attack on the community.”
United Farm Workers President Teresa Romero accused federal agents of targeting rural communities with tactics that she said placed agricultural workers at risk.
The raid occurred days after several California cities joined a federal lawsuit challenging immigration enforcement actions.
The complaint, filed against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, alleges unconstitutional targeting based on race and appearance during past operations.
Glass House Farms, which acquired the Carpinteria facility in 2021, has not commented publicly.
ICE has also not issued a formal statement regarding Thursday’s operation.
As of Thursday evening, protesters remained near the property demanding information about those taken into custody.
One woman at the scene said she was still waiting to hear about her family members. “We just want to know if they’re safe,” she said.
WATCH:
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Author: Gloriel Howard
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