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Minors among suspected illegal immigrants detained after clash at California farm

Regan Morris
Reporting fromLos Angeles
CBP 10 teenagers with their faces blurred to protect their identities sit in front of 5 federal immigration agents who also have their faces blurred. CBP
10 teenagers were among the 200 detained

Farm workers were badly injured after an immigration raid at a California marijuana farm, during which about 200 people – including 10 minors – were detained, according to a union.

"The UFW can confirm farm workers were critically injured yesterday during chaotic raids in Ventura County, California. Others, including US citizens remain totally unaccounted for," United Farm Workers said in a statement Friday night. The union reported one death among the workers at first, but then said the death was not confirmed.

Clashes erupted outside Glass House farm in Camarillo on Thursday as protesters confronted federal agents in an attempt to stop the raid. Tear gas was fired at protesters, and National Guard troops with guns and gas masks tried to keep demonstrators from accessing the indoor farm.

Federal officials said a protester fired what looked like a pistol at federal agents. It's not clear where the juveniles are from, but Customs and Border Protection boss Rodney Scott said the youngest was aged 14.

Getty Images Two protesters in dust masks use their phones to film a line of heavily armed National Guard troops standing in a field of crops in California farmland Getty Images
Protesters film a line of National Guard troops in California farmland

"Here's some breaking news: 10 juveniles were found at this marijuana facility - all illegal aliens, 8 of them unaccompanied," he wrote on X on Friday. "It's now under investigation for child labor violations."

The age of the person who died was not reported.

Protesters streamed the clashes live, with one video showing a teenage boy crying that his mother had been taken. US officials shared a video of what looks like a man firing a weapon at federal agents and have offered a $50,000 reward to help them find and convict the suspect.

Federal officers "rescued at least 10 migrant children from what looks like exploitation, forced child labor, and potentially human trafficking or smuggling," Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.

"During the operation, a violent agitator fired a gun at our brave officers."

Marijuana is legal and regulated in California – this enforcement was about the workers, not the product.

Getty Images A woman in blue jeans with blond hair runs away from a military vehicle and white smoke which looks like tear gas. Getty Images
Tear gas was fried to try and disperse protesters

Two Glass House marijuana farms were raided simultaneously in Camarillo and Carpinteria – both along California's central coast farmland north of Los Angeles.

Glass House said in a statement posted to X that it complied with immigration officers.

"Workers were detained and we are assisting to provide them legal representation," the company said. "Glass House has never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors."

The UFW said it was aware of the reports about minors found at the farm.

"Farm workers are excluded from basic child labor laws and it is unfortunately not uncommon for teenagers to work in the fields. To be clear: detaining and deporting children is not a solution for child labor," a statement from the union said.

California – particularly Los Angeles County – has been at the centre of daily immigration raids since President Trump deployed National Guard troops and US Marines to Los Angeles last month to protect federal immigration agents.

While many Americans support President Trump's tough immigration policies, in Southern California they have caused palpable fear in immigrant communities, with many migrants hiding in their homes, too afraid to go to work or the grocery store.