Appalling secret of illegal cannabis farmer who Democrats called a 'strawberry farmer' during dystopian ICE raid
Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Rodney Scott confirmed one of the illegal farmers was previously sentenced for child sex crimes and worked at the same farm as juveniles.
'This illegal alien was apprehended at the CA marijuana facility,' he said of the unnamed man.
'Turns out he had been sentenced to 7 yrs for kidnapping & attempted rape, w/ a prior conviction for attempted child molestation.
'And this felon was working at the same farm as 10 kids - one being 14 yrs old.'
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers carried out multiple raids Thursday across Ventura County, just north of Los Angeles, on cannabis farms leading to a violent response from locals and farmworkers at Glass House Farms.
The raids sparked backlash from Democrats, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Democrat Congressman Jimmy Gomez, who suggested workers were 'picking strawberries' in the fields.
'Kids running from tear gas, crying on the phone because their mother was just taken from the fields,' Newsom posted on X alongside a clip of the smoky aftermath of the fracas.
The raids sparked backlash from Democrats, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Democrat Congressman Jimmy Gomez, who suggested children were 'picking strawberries' in the fields
'Trump calls me "Nuwscum" - but he's the real scum,' the two-term governor added.
Gomez also took to the platform to share his frustration with Trump 'targeting the immigrant farm workers who feed America.'
'How many MS-13 gang members are waking up at 3 a.m. to pick strawberries? O'yeah, zero!,' he wrote.
'Trump said he'd go after 'bad hombres," but he's targeting the immigrant farm workers who feed America. Either he lied - or he can't tell the difference.'
Homeland Security then used Gomez's 'strawberry fields' claim against him, as the agency posted images of ICE agents taking a walk through the facility that was clearly lined with marijuana plants.
'Chat, what type of strawberries are these?,' the agency wrote as masked agents walked past the greenery.
Marijuana is legal in the Golden State for people 21 years or older.
Tear gas and guns were seen being used in dramatic video footage of the raids as armored federal agents stood on farm roads, flanked by rows of what appear to be cannabis, or marijuana plants, while masked agitators hurled slurs and debris at law enforcement.
One man even opened fire on the federal agents.
Just seconds after ICE agents fired smoke canisters into a crowd of demonstrators near Laguna Road, one individual could be clearly seen raising a firearm and appeared to discharge it in the agents' direction.
Agents blocked off roads and stormed the facility in what witnesses described as a sudden and aggressive operation.
Tear gas choked the air, smoke bombs were thrown and projectiles flew.
Protesters, farmworkers, and family members scattered through the fields, many screaming, some hit, with others pouring milk over their faces to soothe burning eyes.
At least three people were taken to the hospital while dozens more were detained.
A worker, James Alanís died after he climbed a 30-foot greenhouse during the raid before falling from it.
Alanís suffered a broken neck and skull, a family member told ABC 7. He was taken to the hospital and was on life support on Friday. He died on Saturday.
Alanís was working at the cannabis farm in Ventura County to send money home to his wife and daughter in Mexico.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that 319 illegal migrants were arrested during the raid.
Noem, also known as 'ICE Barbie', said 14 children were also rescued 'from potential forced labor, exploitation, and trafficking.'
The children, who Scott posted an image of, are from Mexico and Honduras, Fox News reported.
Authorities are currently looking into the criminal histories of detained illegal aliens and Glass House Farms is under investigation for possible child labor law violations, per the outlet.
An angry Trump called out the protestors on his Truth Social platform, and went on to authorize ICE officers to take all necessary precautions to protect themselves in the future.
'I am on my way back from Texas, and watched in disbelief as THUGS were violently throwing rocks and bricks at ICE Officers while they were moving down a roadway in their car and/or official vehicle,' he said after visiting the ravaged Lone Star State with First Lady Melania following the disastrous floods.
'Tremendous damage was done to these brand new vehicles. I know for a fact that these Officers are having a hard time with allowing this to happen in that it shows such total disrespect for LAW AND ORDER.
He continued: 'I am giving Total Authorization for ICE to protect itself, just like they protect the Public. I never want to see a car carrying a Law Enforcement Officer attacked again!
'AUTHORIZATION IMMEDIATELY GRANTED FOR ARREST AND INCARCERATION. Thank you for your attention to this matter!'
The raid is believed to be the second-largest single-state ICE operation in history, following the 2019 Mississippi chicken plant raids that nabbed nearly 700 illegal migrants during Trump's first term.
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