Federal immigration raids in Ventura County on Thursday led to a tense standoff as ICE agents fired tear gas and rubber bullets at 500 protesters, drawing sharp criticism from local leaders and advocacy groups according to the Los Angeles Times.
Nearly a dozen federal agents used less-lethal ammunition near the intersection of Laguna and Wood roads, outside a warehouse on the 600 block of Laguna Road, according to 805 Immigration Coalition. Videos showed protesters cursing at agents while coughing from gas exposure.
Angel Marie, with 805 Immigration Coalition, said that U.S. citizens were among those detained. “Everyone working in the warehouse is now being detained by the federal agents. It’s a giant factory, and a lot of people have family working there, which is why so many gathered.”
Aerial footage showed dozens of workers sitting in the shade with agents standing guard. At least one person was held at gunpoint for trying to record the raid, Marie said. Protesters blocked roads, leading agents to drive vehicles through nearby fields. Multiple ambulances entered and exited the facility, but it was unclear if anyone was injured.
Sarah Armstrong, outreach chair with Americans for Safe Access, said Homeland Security and the U.S. National Guard fired tear gas and rubber bullets. She noted the property, Glass House Farms, is linked to the cannabis industry but said she could not confirm whether officials showed a search warrant to operators.
Lucas Zucker, co-executive director of Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE), said his organization had staff at Glass House Farms but withdrew them after agents deployed tear gas. He described using rubber bullets and tear gas on a small crowd in remote farmland as “pretty unusual.” “I don’t think there’s any credible case that they were under threat,” he said, describing it as a gathering of “a small crowd of community members … in pretty remote agricultural areas.”
Zucker added that Glass House Farms has been targeted repeatedly in recent months, including workplace raids in June that led to mass arrests of farmworkers. After an intense week of raids in June, community patrols reduced workplace raids, but recent enforcement shifted to suburban areas like Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks. Thursday’s operation marked the first major workplace raid in the region since June.
Oxnard Mayor Luis McArthur said he is coordinating with emergency services, expressing concern for residents sheltering in vehicles amid high temperatures. “It is becoming increasingly apparent that the actions taken by ICE are bold and aggressive, demonstrating insensitivity towards the direct impact on our community,” he said, adding he will work with the Attorney General and Governor’s office on potential legal responses.
