Latest news with #GlassHouseBrands
New York Post
14-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Founder of Cali pot farm where ICE rescued dozens of kids and busted 300+ migrants donated to Gavin Newsom, other Dems
The co-founder of the pot farm where migrant kids as young as 14 were working has dolled out thousands of dollars to Governor Gavin Newsom and other local Democrats, records show. Graham Farra is co-founder and president of Glass House Farms in Ventura County, the largest pot farm in California, which had been lauded as a pioneer in 'green' — that is environmentally friendly — cannabis. 6 Graham Farra, co-founder of Glass House Farms. 6 Tear gas billows from cannisters thrown by federal agents towards protesters, during an immigration raid. via REUTERS 6 Protestors holding Mexican flags face off against law enforcement during a raid at a cannabis facility in Camarillo, California. ALLISON DINNER/EPA/Shutterstock ICE rounded up 361 undocumented workers last Thursday, including 14 underage kids – eight of them unaccompanied — in a raid that turned violent after protestors clashed with agents and one worker died after falling from a greenhouse. Farra previously donated to various Dem candidates and causes in the Golden State, including giving $10,000 to Gavin Newsom in 2018. He also donated to the Santa Barbara County Democratic Central Committee's federal PAC and Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA), campaign finance records show. He was even photographed presenting an oversized check to local school officials for a scholarship fund, the LA Times reported in 2019. 'Glass House has never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors,' the farm's parent company, Glass House Brands, posted to X. 6 Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom of California. AP 6 National Guard troops face off with protestors at Glass House Farms. AFP via Getty Images 'We are focused on taking care of our people and our plants,' Farrar himself said in an X post reported by FOX News before it was deleted. Glass House Brands, co-founded by Farra and Kyle Kazan, had a market cap of $300 million last year, according to business blogger Alejandro Cremades. Kazan is a former cop and teacher, and the company says he supports President Trump, according to the LA Times. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It has built its brand on claims of using sustainable and ethical business practices, including low-carbon, water-sustainable farming methods. 'It's a saga of passion, perseverance, and a profound belief in the positive impact of cannabis on individuals and society,' Cremades wrote of Farra's career. 6 People waiting outside Glass House Farms to retrieve vehicles after the immigration raid. AFP via Getty Images But the federal government tells a different story — at least when it comes to labor practices. Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the conditions for the children looked 'like exploitation, forced child labor, and potentially human trafficking or smuggling while facing assault and even gunfire. Mexican illegal immigrant Juan Duarte-Velasquez, who had a rape and DUI conviction, was also arrested on one of the farms. Newsom did not immediately respond to the Post's request for comment on the donation by Farrar. He did blast FOX News' coverage of it, pointing out the outlet's ties to the Trump administration. 'Sure is rich for Fox News and the Trump Admin to point to campaign donations to Democrats, when in fact, the CEO is a Trump supporter who donated to my recall and has given to more Republicans,' the governor posted to X.
Hamilton Spectator
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
A chaotic raid, 360 arrests, and a tragic death: What happened at California's Glass House Farms
Federal authorities now say they arrested more than 360 people at two Southern California marijuana farms last week, characterizing the raids as one of the largest operations since President Donald Trump took office in January. One farmworker died after falling from a greenhouse roof during the chaotic raids on Thursday after the Department of Homeland Security executed criminal search warrants at Glass House Farms facilities in Camarillo and Carpinteria, northwest of Los Angeles. The raids came more than a month into an extended crackdown across Southern California that was originally centered on Los Angeles, where local officials say the federal actions are spreading fear in immigrant communities. A federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to halt indiscriminate immigration stops and arrests in seven California counties, including Los Angeles. What happened? During the raid on the Camarillo site, crowds gathered seeking information about their relatives and to protest immigration enforcement. Authorities clad in military-style helmets and uniforms faced off with the demonstrators, and people ultimately retreated amid acrid green and white billowing smoke. Glass House Brands is a major cannabis company in California that started a decade ago with a greenhouse in the Santa Barbara County community of Carpinteria. The company said it later expanded, buying another facility in the Ventura County community of Camarillo that included six tomato and cucumber-growing greenhouses. Glass House converted two of them to grow cannabis, according to the company's website. Relatives of workers at the Camarillo site said tomatoes are still grown at the location in addition to cannabis. Arrest numbers keep rising The federal government initially reported that some 200 people suspected of being in the country illegally were arrested. Then on Saturday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said 319 people were arrested and said on X it was 'quickly becoming one of the largest operations since President Trump took office.' A day later, the arrest numbers, according to the Department of Homeland Security, were up to 361 from the two locations. The government said four of the 361 arrested had prior criminal records, including convictions for rape and kidnapping. One death reported from the raids A farmworker who fell from a greenhouse roof during the raid at the farm in Camarillo died Saturday of his injuries. Jaime Alanis, 57, is the first known fatality during one of the Trump administration's ongoing immigration enforcement operations. Yesenia Duran, Alanis' niece, confirmed his death to The Associated Press. She posted on the fundraising site GoFundMe that her uncle was his family's only provider and he had been sending his earnings back to a wife and daughter in Mexico. Alanis worked at the farm for 10 years, his family said. He called his wife in Mexico and told her he was hiding from federal agents during the raid Thursday. A doctor told his relatives that the ambulance crew who took him to a hospital said he fell about 30 feet (9 meters), Duran said. Why was the business raided? The government says it is investigating potential child labor, human trafficking and other abuse. Initially, DHS said 10 immigrant children were on the property. They later increased that number to 14. Authorities declined to share the warrant for the operation. The administration has released no additional information about the children, including their ages and what they were doing on the property when authorities arrived. DHS has not provided details to back up its claim of possible trafficking or other abuse, and the company has not been charged with anything. It was unclear if any of the minors were the children of farm workers at the sites or if they came to the U.S. without an adult. Federal and state laws allow children as young as 12 to work in agriculture under certain conditions, according to the U.S. Department of Labor . In California, children as young as 12 can work on farms outside of school hours, while those as young as 16 can work during school hours if they are not required to attend school, the agency said on its website. No one under the age of 21 is allowed to work in the cannabis industry. The California Department of Cannabis Control conducted a site visit in May 2025 and observed no minors on the premises, a spokesperson said. After receiving a subsequent complaint, the state opened an investigation to ensure full compliance with state law. U.S. citizens were among those arrested Four U.S. citizens were arrested during the raids for allegedly 'assaulting or resisting officers,' according to DHS, and authorities were offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a person suspected of firing a gun at federal agents. Among those arrested was California State University Channel Islands professor Jonathan Caravello, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli posted on X. Essayli said Caravello was arrested for throwing a tear gas canister at law enforcement and was to appear in court Tuesday. The California Faculty Association said Caravello was taken away by agents who did not identify themselves nor inform him of why he was being arrested. The association said he was then held without being able to contact his family. Caravello was attempting to dislodge a tear gas canister that was stuck underneath someone's wheelchair, witnesses told KABC-TV, the ABC affiliate in Los Angeles. Separately, the federal Bureau of Prisons said George Retes, 25, was in their custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles from Thursday to Sunday. Retes' family told KABC-TV on Sunday that he is a U.S. citizen, works as a security guard at the farm in Camarillo and is a disabled U.S. Army veteran. They said Retes was trying to drive away during the clashes between protesters and agents when an officer stopped him, broke his car window and shot pepper spray before dragging him out of his car and arresting him. Retes' sister, Destinee Magaña, told the television station on Sunday that the family had been trying to get in touch with her brother. Federal agents 'thought he was probably part of the protest, but he wasn't, he was trying to reverse his car,' Magaña said. Neither Retes nor Magaña responded to emails Monday from The Associated Press seeking comment. The region prepares for more raids Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is now proposing to provide cash assistance to residents too scared to leave their homes to go to work. The plan comes as part of a sweeping executive order the mayor signed on Friday that instructs Los Angeles officials 'to bolster their protocols and training to prepare for federal immigration activity occurring on city property.' The order also establishes a police department working group for immigrants and expands access to resources for impacted families. In addition, it seeks records from the federal government on what the city deems unlawful raids from federal agencies. The monetary relief will not come from city funds but from philanthropic partners, officials said. Immigrant rights groups will distribute cash cards similar to those used to provide financial assistance to Angelenos struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. It wasn't immediately clear how people will qualify to receive the cards. The goal is to help people who have been deterred 'from attending school and church, seeking city services, accessing health care, and going to work,' the order states. ___ Associated Press writer Christopher Weber in Los Angeles contributed to this report. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
California farm raids shape up to be the biggest since January, Trump administration says
Federal authorities now say they arrested more than 360 people at two Southern California marijuana farms last week, characterizing the raids as one of the largest operations since President Donald Trump took office in January. One farmworker died after falling from a greenhouse roof during the chaotic raids on Thursday after the Department of Homeland Security executed criminal search warrants at Glass House Farms facilities in Camarillo and Carpinteria, northwest of Los Angeles. What happened? During the raid on the Camarillo site, crowds gathered seeking information about their relatives and to protest immigration enforcement. Authorities clad in military-style helmets and uniforms faced off with the demonstrators, and people ultimately retreated amid acrid green and white billowing smoke. Glass House Brands is a major cannabis company in California that started a decade ago with a greenhouse in the Santa Barbara County community of Carpinteria. The company said it later expanded, buying another facility in the Ventura County community of Camarillo that included six tomato and cucumber-growing greenhouses. Glass House converted two of them to grow cannabis, according to the company's website. Relatives of workers at the Camarillo site said tomatoes are still also grown at the location. Arrest numbers keep rising The federal government initially reported that some 200 people suspected of being in the country illegally were arrested. Then on Saturday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said 319 people were arrested and said on X it was 'quickly becoming one of the largest operations since President Trump took office.' A day later, the arrest numbers according to the Department of Homeland Security, were up to 361 from the two locations. The government said four of the 361 arrested had prior criminal records, including convictions for rape and kidnapping. One death reported from the raids A farmworker who fell from a greenhouse roof during the raid at the farm in Camarillo died Saturday of his injuries. Jaime Alanis, 57, is the first known fatality during one of the Trump administration's ongoing immigration enforcement operations. Yesenia Duran, Alanis' niece, confirmed his death to The Associated Press. She posted on the fundraising site GoFundMe that her uncle was his family's only provider and he had been sending his earnings back to a wife and daughter in Mexico. Alanis worked at the farm for 10 years, his family said. He called his wife in Mexico and told her he was hiding from federal agents during the raid Thursday. A doctor told his relatives the ambulance crew who took him to a hospital said he fell about 30 feet (9 meters), Duran said. Why was the business raided? The government says it is investigating potential child labor, human trafficking and other abuse. Initially, DHS said 10 immigrant children were on the property. They later increased that number to 14. Authorities declined to share the warrant for the operation. The administration has released no additional information about the children, including their ages and what they were doing on the property when authorities arrived. DHS has not provided details to back up its claim of possible trafficking or other abuse, and the company has not been charged with anything. It was unclear if any of the minors were the children of farm workers at the sites or if they came to the U.S. without an adult. Federal and state laws allow children as young as 12 to work in agriculture under certain conditions, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. In California, children as young as 12 can work on farms outside of school hours, while those as young as 16 can work during school hours if they are not required to attend school, the agency said on its website. No one under the age of 21 is allowed to work in the cannabis industry. The California Department of Cannabis Control conducted a site visit in May 2025 and observed no minors on the premises, a spokesman said. After receiving a subsequent complaint, the state opened an investigation to ensure full compliance with state law. U.S. citizens were among those arrested Four U.S. citizens were arrested during the raids for allegedly 'assaulting or resisting officers,' according to DHS, and authorities were offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a person suspected of firing a gun at federal agents. Among those arrested was California State University Channel Islands professor Jonathan Caravello, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli posted on X. Essayli said Caravello was arrested for throwing a tear gas canister at law enforcement and was to appear in court Tuesday. The California Faculty Association said Caravello was taken away by agents who did not identify themselves nor inform him of why he was being arrested. The association said he was then held without being able to contact his family. Caravello was attempting to dislodge a tear gas canister that was stuck underneath someone's wheelchair, witnesses told KABC-TV, the ABC affiliate in Los Angeles. Separately, the federal Bureau of Prisons said George Retes, 25, was in their custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles from Thursday to Sunday. Retes' family told KABC-TV on Sunday that he is a U.S. citizen, works as a security guard at the farm in Camarillo and is a disabled U.S. Army veteran. They said Retes was trying to drive away during the clashes between protesters and agents when an officer stopped him, broke his car window and shot pepper spray before dragging him out of his car and arresting him. Retes' sister, Destinee Magaña, told the television station on Sunday that the family had been trying to get in touch with her brother. Federal agents 'thought he was probably part of the protest, but he wasn't, he was trying to reverse his car,' Magaña said. Neither Retes nor Magaña responded to emails Monday from The Associated Press seeking comment.
France 24
12-07-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Worker dies after US immigration raid on California farm
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, condemned attacks by the demonstrators on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and other members of law enforcement and said "these slimeballs" should be arrested. Trump's remarks on X came a day after a chaotic raid on a cannabis plantation in Ventura County some 56 miles (90 kilometers) from Los Angeles that left one farm worker critically injured. The United Farm Workers said in a post on X on Friday that the worker had "died of injuries they sustained as a result of yesterday's immigration enforcement action." The union did not identify the worker, who reportedly suffered a 30-foot (10-meter) fall during Thursday's raid. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said 200 undocumented migrants were arrested during raids on marijuana grow 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." The company said it was providing legal representation to detained workers. 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 protestors, 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 In his post on X, Trump said he had watched footage of "thugs" throwing rocks and bricks at ICE vehicles, causing "tremendous damage." Trump said law enforcement officers who are "on the receiving end of thrown rocks, bricks, or any other form of assault, (are authorized) 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 on Friday 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.
Forbes
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Newsom, DHS Feud After 'Juveniles' Allegedly Found at Cannabis Facility During ICE Raids
A raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on two cannabis growing sites in California led to tense conflicts and finger-pointing Thursday and Friday, as the Customs and Border Patrol commissioner said he was launching an investigation into potential 'child labor violations,' while Gov. Gavin Newsom condemned the raids and called President Donald Trump 'scum.' Federal agents block people protesting an ICE immigration raid at a nearby licensed cannabis farm on ... More July 10 near Camarillo, agents raided cannabis nurseries in Camarillo, California, and Carpinteria, California, on Thursday. Both cannabis facilities are owned by Glass House Brands Inc., which bills itself as one of the largest cannabis flower brands in the world. CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said in posts on X Thursday and Friday that agents found 10 undocumented 'juveniles' as young as 14 years old, eight of which were allegedly unaccompanied, during the raids. Scott said in an X post Thursday that the facility is now under investigation for 'child labor violations.' It remains unclear if the juveniles found at the cannabis facility are employed by Glass House. The company denied hiring minors in a statement on X, stating that 'Glass House has never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors.' During the raids, law enforcement used tear gas and crowd control munitions and were met with protests, The New York Times reported. The LA Times reported that about 200 suspected undocumented immigrants were taken into custody as a result of the raids. Newsom condemned the raids on X, posting a video of people who appear to be running from tear gas and writing, 'Trump calls me 'Newscum' — but he's the real scum.' The Department of Homeland Security replied to Newsom's post on X Thursday with a post asking, 'Why are there children working at a marijuana facility, Gavin?' In Scott's Friday post on X, he posted a photo of the undocumented juveniles and challenged Newsom, asking, 'California are you ready to partner with us to stop child exploitation?' Newsom responded Friday with an X post, stating that California 'prosecute(s) criminals that break child labor laws.' Trump campaigned on the promise of cracking down on illegal immigration and deporting undocumented criminals—a goal the administration has tried to achieve through raids and deportation. But ICE has increasingly arrested and detained immigrants with no criminal history since Trump took office. California has been in the national spotlight recently as the Trump administration carries out major anti-immigrant actions in the state, such as ICE raids in Los Angeles that prompted major protests in the city and a raid consisting of armed agents and troops on horseback, on foot and in humvees at MacArthur Park in LA this week. Why Are Newsom And Dhs Feuding On Social Media? Newsom and DHS, as well as DHS agency CBP and CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott, have been in a heated social media exchange centered on the 10 'juveniles' found during the raids. Newsom has condemned ICE and Trump's actions against immigrants for months now, notably condemning Trump's decision to send the National Guard to LA during last month's anti-ICE protests. Diana Crofts-Pelayo, a spokesperson for Newsom, called the recent raids 'inhumane' in a statement to Forbes and said that rather than supporting businesses and workers that drive the economy, they 'evoke chaos, fear and terror.'
