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A farm worker has died after sustaining injuries during a raid by US immigration agents on a legal cannabis farm in California, his family confirmed on Saturday.
The incident occurred during broader agricultural site raids on Thursday, which resulted in the arrest of 200 undocumented migrants and clashes between law enforcement and demonstrators as part of President Donald Trump’s intensified anti-immigration crackdown.
The deceased worker, identified as Jaime, was described by his family on a GoFundMe page as a “hard-working, innocent farmer.”
The family stated that he was “chased by ICE agents, and we were told he fell 30 ft (9 metres),” sustaining ‘catastrophic’ injuries.
The GoFundMe page, set up to support his relatives in Mexico, announced on Saturday that he had “passed away.”
Conflicting Accounts and Clash with Protesters
Tricia McLaughlin, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokeswoman, offered a different account, stating that the individual was never in custody.
McLaughlin claimed, “Although he was not being pursued by law enforcement, this individual climbed up to the roof of a greenhouse and fell 30 feet,” adding that Customs and Border Patrol immediately called for a medevac.
DHS reported that 200 undocumented migrants were arrested during the raids on marijuana growing sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo. They also stated that 10 children were “rescued from potential exploitation, forced labour, and human trafficking.”
Glass House Brands, the owner of the farms, issued a statement denying any knowledge of hiring violations or employing minors.
The raids were met with significant resistance from over 500 “rioters,” according to DHS, who attempted to disrupt the operation.
Tear gas was deployed against protesters, some of whom were seen throwing projectiles at law enforcement vehicles. DHS vehicles were damaged, and a $50,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest of an individual who allegedly fired a gun at officers.
Trump Authorises Force and Ongoing Immigration Standoff
President Trump addressed the clashes on his Truth Social platform, referring to the protesters as “thugs” and “slimeballs” who caused “tremendous damage” by throwing rocks and bricks at ICE vehicles.
He announced that he was giving “Total Authorisation for ICE to protect itself, just like they protect the Public,” and empowering officers to “arrest these SLIMEBALLS, using whatever means is necessary to do so.”
This incident intensifies an ongoing standoff between the Trump administration and Democratic-led California over immigration enforcement.
Last month, Trump deployed thousands of National Guard troops to Los Angeles in response to protests against federal immigration roundups, a move California Governor Gavin Newsom deemed unnecessary. However, his legal efforts to remove the troops have so far failed.
At the cannabis farm in Camarillo on Friday, workers were seen waiting in line for their belongings and paychecks. Saul Munoz, a 43-year-old Colombian whose son was detained, expressed his distress, stating, “I just want to know how he’s doing… The truth is the American dream is no longer the American dream.”
