Minors among suspected 200 illegal immigrants detained after raid on California farm
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, called demonstrators involved in attacks on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents 'slimeballs' and said they should be arrested.
In another development, a district judge ordered a halt to 'roving patrols' in Los Angeles by federal agents who were detaining suspected undocumented migrants without probable cause and denying them due process.
District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong ordered an end to the arrests, which she said were being made 'based upon race alone,' on whether a person was speaking Spanish or English with an accent or because of their place of work.
Trump's remarks and the court order come a day after a chaotic raid on a cannabis plantation in Ventura County some 90km from Los Angeles left one farm worker critically injured.
The United Farm Workers labour union had said in an X post yesterday that the worker had 'died of injuries they sustained as a result of yesterday's immigration enforcement action.' But the family on a GoFundMe page said he was in critical condition and unlikely to survive.
'He was chased by ICE agents, and we were told he fell 30ft. My uncle's life is in critical condition; doctors have told us he won't make it. His injuries are catastrophic. His heart is still beating.'
The Ventura County Medical Center, which told ABC News that he was in critical condition, did not respond to news organisation AFP calls for more details.
Tricia McLaughlin, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokeswoman, said he was never in custody.
'Although he was not being pursued by law enforcement, this individual climbed up to the roof of a green house and fell 30 feet,' McLaughlin said. '(Customs and Border Patrol) immediately called a medivac to the scene to get him care as quickly as possible.'
The DHS said 200 undocumented migrants were arrested during raids on marijuana growing sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo on Thursday and 10 children were rescued 'from potential exploitation, forced labor, and human trafficking.'
Glass House Brands, which owns the farms, said in a statement that it has 'never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors.'
Advertisement
DHS said more than 500 'rioters' had attempted to disrupt the operation and four US citizens are facing charges for assaulting or resisting officers.
Tear gas was used against the protesters, some of whom were seen in television footage throwing projectiles at law enforcement vehicles.
The department said immigration agency vehicles were damaged and a $50,000 reward was being offered for the arrest of an individual who allegedly fired a gun at law enforcement officers.
Showdown
People gather at Oxnard City Hall to protest the raids carried out by ICE and Homeland Security at the Glass House Farms marijuana grow facilities.
Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he had watched footage of 'thugs' throwing rocks and bricks at ICE vehicles, causing 'tremendous damage.'
Trump said he was authorizing law enforcement officers who are 'on the receiving end of thrown rocks, bricks, or any other form of assault, to stop their car, and arrest these SLIMEBALLS, using whatever means is necessary to do so.'
'I am giving Total Authorization for ICE to protect itself, just like they protect the Public,' he said.
Trump, who campaigned on a pledge to deport millions of migrants, has been involved in a showdown over immigration enforcement with Democratic-ruled California for weeks.
The Republican president sent thousands of National Guard troops to Los Angeles last month to quell protests against roundups of undocumented migrants by federal agents.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has said the troops were not necessary to address the mostly peaceful protests, but his legal efforts to have them removed have failed so far.
The cannabis farm in Camarillo was calm during a visit by an AFP reporter yesterday as workers waited in line to collect their belongings and paychecks.
'We've been here since six this morning asking questions but they're not giving us any information,' said Saul Munoz, a 43-year-old Colombian whose son was detained on Thursday.
'I just want to know how he's doing,' Munoz said. 'Bring him back to me and if it's time for us to leave, we'll leave.
'The truth is the American dream is no longer really the American dream.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Trump's 30% tariffs would ‘practically prohibit' EU-US trade, says Šefčovič
Donald Trump's threat to impose 30% tariffs on European goods would 'practically prohibit' transatlantic trade, the EU's lead negotiator with the US has said. Arriving for talks with European ministers in Brussels, Maroš Šefčovič, the EU trade commissioner, said a tariff of 30% or more would have a huge impact, making it 'almost impossible to continue' current transatlantic trade, which is worth €4.4bn a day. Expressing disappointment, he said his negotiating team thought they had been close to a deal. 'The feeling on our side was that we are very close to an agreement,' as he said the two sides had been negotiating an agreement in principle – the outlines of a deal – for four weeks prior to Trump's blunt announcement at the weekend. The US president said on Saturday that EU imports would face a tariff of 30% from 1 August, denting European optimism that talks to secure a still painful 10% duty were almost finalised. In response to Trump's latest deadline, the EU decided to postpone retaliatory countertariffs on €21bn of US goods that had been due to kick in at midnight on Monday until 1 August. Ministers will also discuss plans for a further round of countermeasures, targeting €72bn of US imports to the EU. Denmark's foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, who will chair the talks, said Europe did not want a trade war with the US, which would be 'devastating' for both sides. 'We don't want to escalate things then, on the other hand, we also need to flash some muscles,' he said. France has called for an acceleration of preparations on countermeasures and said the EU should be ready to use its untested 'anti-coercion instrument', a law to impose punitive measures on a country seen to be using trade as a weapon. Striking a different tone, Germany has called for a 'pragmatic' response, while Italy has warned against a trade war. Countries in central and eastern Europe are also concerned that countermeasures could trigger a withdrawal of US military support in Europe. Lithuania's foreign minister, Keṣtutis Budrys, said the EU had to avoid escalation, citing 'geoeconomic challenges' and 'the issues that we have to solve together with the US, like fentanyl'. Trump has accused Canada and Mexico of not doing enough to combat flows of the opioid into the US, although the issue is not known to have been a feature of EU-US trade talks.
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Trump envoy arrives in Kyiv as US pledges Patriot missiles to Ukraine
US president Donald Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia has arrived in Kyiv, a senior Ukrainian official said, as anticipation grew over possible changes in the Trump administration's policies on the more than three-year war. Mr Trump teased last week that he would make a 'major statement' on Russia on Monday. The president made quickly stopping the war one of his diplomatic priorities, and has increasingly expressed frustration about Russian president Vladimir Putin's unbudging stance. US president Donald Trump confirmed America was sending Ukraine Patriot air defence missiles to help it fend off Russia's intensifying aerial attacks (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) Mr Putin 'talks nice and then he bombs everybody', Mr Trump said late on Sunday, as he confirmed America was sending Ukraine badly needed US-made Patriot air defence missiles to help it fend off Russia's intensifying aerial attacks. A top ally of Mr Trump, Republican senator Lindsey Graham, said on Sunday that the conflict was nearing an inflection point as Mr Trump showed growing interest in helping Ukraine fight back against Russia's full-scale invasion. It was a cause that Mr Trump had previously dismissed as being a waste of US taxpayer money. Meanwhile, Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte was due in Washington on Monday and Tuesday. He planned to hold talks with Mr Trump, secretary of state Marco Rubio and defence secretary Pete Hegseth as well as members of Congress. Talks during the visit by Mr Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired general Keith Kellogg, would cover 'defence, strengthening security, weapons, sanctions, protection of our people and enhancing co-operation between Ukraine and the United States', the head of Ukraine's presidential office, Andrii Yermak, said. 'Russia does not want a ceasefire. Peace through strength is President Donald Trump's principle, and we support this approach,' Mr Yermak said.
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
September dates for Donald Trump's UK state visit confirmed
US president Donald Trump will travel to Britain for an unprecedented second full state visit from September 17th to 19th, Buckingham Palace has confirmed. Mr Trump and his wife Melania will be hosted by King Charles at a full state banquet at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, about 25 miles (40km) west of London; Buckingham Palace, which usually hosts British state banquets, is undergoing renovation works. It appears that, unlike French president Emmanuel Macron, who had a full state visit to Britain last week, the US president may not be afforded the opportunity to give an address to the joint houses of parliament in Westminster during his three-day visit. Mr Trump's visit begins the day after the UK parliament breaks for recess for the political party conference season. This may be designed to avoid a potentially embarrassing situation for Britain's prime minister, Keir Starmer , who had feared a boycott of such as address by Mr Trump by some of his Labour MPs. Last week, 15 government MPs, including left-leaning rebels Diane Abbott and Nadia Whittome, were among 20 to sign a motion calling on House of Commons speaker Lindsay Hoyle to deny Mr Trump an address to parliament in Westminster. Former US president Barack Obama addressed both houses during his state visit in 2011. If he was keen to emulate his Democrat predecessor, Mr Trump could in theory still request to give an address. That would potentially force Mr Starmer into recalling parliament or delaying recess. But it appears unlikely such a request would be made following back-room diplomatic machinations between the UK and US. Mr Trump previously made a state visit to Britain in 2019, when he infamously breached royal protocol by walking in front of the late queen Elizabeth on a royal lawn. No elected politician before Mr Trump has ever been asked back for a second state visit. Mr Starmer, however, theatrically produced an invite from the king from his inside pocket in the Oval Room, during the UK prime minister's trip to see the US president at the White House in Washington in February. Mr Starmer has courted Mr Trump assiduously since last year, hoping to maintain Britain's much-valued 'special relationship' with the US. The US president is also expected to come to Britain next month on a more informal visit. He will travel to Scotland to visit his two privately owned golf courses there: Turnberry in Ayrshire and the Trump International Scotland in Aberdeenshire that officially opens in August. Mr Trump is not expected to meet King Charles during his golfing visit next month. However, The Irish Times understands that he may stay at Balmoral Castle, which is barely an hour's drive from his Aberdeenshire course.
