Federal raids spark chaos at Southern California farms
Andrew Gillies
CENTRAL COAST REGION, Calif. — Two raids shook the Central Coast on Thursday as heavily armed federal agents stormed cannabis farms in Carpinteria and Camarillo, deploying tear gas, flashbangs and rubber bullets on crowds that included stunned farmworkers, residents and local officials.
In Carpinteria, tensions erupted when a crowd of outraged residents and workers confronted federal agents, some clad in military-style gear. Smoke bombs filled the air as the scene turned chaotic. Witnesses say the confrontation escalated when authorities attempted to clear a path for a school bus, prompting officers to fire pepper balls and additional rounds of tear gas to disperse the growing crowd.
“The national immigration debate exploded without warning in Carpinteria,” said one witness. Traffic backed up for blocks as hundreds gathered near the intersection of Foothill Road and Casitas Pass Road.
VIEWER WARNING: Videos below from the scene contain profanity as well as the use of crowd controls devices and measures that some viewers may find offensive or stressful.
Among those at the scene was Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, a former Marine who presented his congressional ID and demanded to speak with officials. He was physically pushed back and denied access.
“This is just ridiculous. It’s tragic and uncalled for,” Carbajal said. “This is overkill. Military personnel on our streets — Homeland Security dressed like soldiers — this is political theater by the Trump administration.”
Holding up part of a spent flashbang grenade, Carbajal added, “They threw this into a crowd near children. This is not how you keep people safe.”
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Carpinteria City Councilmember Mónica Solórzano was also injured in the clash.
“We were just standing there. We weren’t even saying anything… and now I’m bleeding,” she said after being knocked to the ground.
Thomas Elmore, a Carpinteria student, described the chaos.
“They started throwing pepper balls, tear gas, smoke — everything. They knew we were going to push back against it,” Elmore said.
A worker at Glass House Farms, the site of the raid, said he witnessed at least 10 people being detained.
“They put everyone on the ground. They did what they wanted. I don’t think this was targeted — it felt random,” he said.
Army veteran John Linebarger urged the crowd to blame the system, not the officers.
“These soldiers were just following orders. If they refused, they’d face court-martial,” he said.
Alvaro Rico, a local construction worker, expressed fear despite his citizenship status.
“I’m a citizen — and I’m still scared. Really scared. For all these people,” he said.
As the operation ended, tear gas lingered in the air, and the crowd slowly dispersed.
At the same time, a second raid unfolded at another Glass House Farms property in Camarillo, where U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents again deployed tear gas and crowd-control devices. Authorities labeled the incident a “multi-casualty event” due to the number of injuries reported.
Aerial footage showed agents firing tear gas and tackling individuals near agricultural fields along Laguna Road. Dozens were detained, many handcuffed and seated against a wall with paper bags at their feet. Paramedics established a triage zone to treat those affected by chemical agents.
Aerial Footage from Camarillo
Advocates at the scene estimate that at least 30 individuals were taken away in unmarked vans.
In a statement Thursday, Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Westlake Village, voiced concern about the enforcement in Camarillo and broader actions across Southern California.
“I am aware of the recent immigration enforcement activities and large federal agent presence on Laguna Road in Camarillo and have been closely monitoring the situation,” Brownley said.“I’m deeply frustrated by the lack of transparency from ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, and I will be demanding answers to find out who they detained and where the detainees are being taken.”
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office confirmed it was not involved in the Carpinteria operation but had been notified in advance for “deconfliction purposes.” The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said it was similarly notified but did not participate in the Camarillo raid.
This raid comes as rumors spread about the existence of a detention facility in Camarillo.
The Department of Homeland Security declined to confirm the purpose of the federal law enforcement activity Thursday as well as the existence of a large-scale detention facility in Camarillo when contacted by Your News Channel.
The raids follow a June incident in which Juan Ramirez Diaz, a U.S. citizen from Oxnard, was detained during a separate ICE operation targeting his father. DHS later said Diaz interfered with the arrest and was taken into custody for obstruction.
Last week, President Donald Trump outlined a plan that could allow some migrants to remain in the U.S. to work in agriculture or hospitality. However, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins clarified Tuesday that the administration’s policy still includes mass deportations and no amnesty.
“There are 34 million able-bodied adults in the Medicaid program,” Rollins said. “Deportations will continue — strategically and intentionally — as we move toward more automation and a 100% American workforce.”
The City of Carpinteria has scheduled a special meeting for 6 p.m. Thursday to address the raids and their impact on the community.
This is a developing story. Your News Channel will continue to update this article as more information becomes available.
