Federal Raid Uncovers Underage Illegal Workers at Cannabis Farm—California Officials Ignore The Facts

Federal Raid at Cannabis Farms Triggers Chaos in California

A federal immigration enforcement operation turned chaotic Thursday when ICE agents stormed two California cannabis farms in Camarillo and Carpinteria, sparking heated clashes with protesters, tear gas deployments, and sharp political backlash.

The targets: Glass House Farms, a state-licensed marijuana company operating legally under California law — but still federally illegal under U.S. law. Agents, armed with a warrant targeting undocumented workers, arrived in force. Eyewitnesses reported military-style helicopters, tactical units, and the use of tear gas and smoke bombs to break up demonstrations that erupted after word of the raid spread.

Videos captured by onlookers showed crowds confronting federal agents, while four individuals were hospitalized, and three others treated at the scene, according to Ventura County Fire Department.

U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), who visited the site in Carpinteria, criticized the raid harshly.

“This is deplorable. Individuals dressed like military personnel on our soil… We don’t do that in America,” Carbajal said in a video posted online. “This was overkill. This was ridiculous.”

Oxnard Mayor Luis McArthur condemned the raid’s “aggressive” nature, saying it inflicted "unnecessary distress and harm" on the local community. He vowed to explore legal action alongside the California Attorney General and Governor’s office.

California Governor Gavin Newsom also unleashed a scathing rebuke of the federal operation and former President Donald Trump, under whose administration the raids were conducted.

“Kids running from tear gas, crying on the phone because their mother was just taken from the fields,” Newsom posted on X, accompanying a video of panicked civilians. “Trump calls me ‘Newscum’ — but he’s the real scum.”

Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott responded to Newsom’s claims, revealing a disturbing new detail:

“10 juveniles were found at this marijuana facility — all illegal aliens, 8 of them unaccompanied,” Scott posted. “It’s now under investigation for child labor violations.”

Newsom fired back, accusing White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, the architect of the Trump-era immigration crackdown, of orchestrating the raids to “instill chaos, fear, and terror” in immigrant communities. 

Meanwhile, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and officials from eight cities have sued the federal government, calling the raids unconstitutional and politically motivated.

🔊 Final Take:

Plain and simple — it’s unacceptable that multiple underage, undocumented individuals were reportedly working at this facility. First, marijuana remains illegal under federal law, and anyone entering the cannabis industry is made well aware of this fact from the start. State laws, including California’s, do not override federal statutes. Possession of even trace amounts is still a federal offense.

Second, in California, individuals must be at least 21 years old to legally possess or use marijuana. Regardless of immigration status, no minors should be working around cannabis — whether they’re trimming, watering, or fertilizing the plants. That responsibility falls squarely on the facility. Allowing children in that environment is not just irresponsible — it’s deeply troubling.

This is yet another example of California’s ongoing enforcement crisis — where laws are ignored until it’s convenient to target law-abiding citizens. Across the state, from cities to counties, there’s a disturbing pattern: illegal activity is tolerated, while those who follow the rules often face the harshest penalties.

In this case, the state should act decisively. The facility’s license must be immediately revoked, and the owners and management should be held criminally accountable. Operating a business that employs underage, undocumented workers — especially around a federally illegal substance — demands real consequences, not selective leniency.

This is no longer just a policy debate — it’s a full-blown flashpoint.
The dramatic ICE raid at Glass House Farms throws a spotlight on the deep disconnect between federal and state laws, especially in cannabis and immigration. But more than legal contradictions, this operation laid bare the emotional toll on families, workers, and communities already struggling with economic uncertainty. As political leaders square off and lawsuits begin to fly, one thing is clear: the front lines of America's culture wars now stretch from courthouses to cannabis fields. 

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Check out the video below over 2 hours of video coverage of the situation S/O to ABC News Channel 7 make sure you visit their YouTube channel as well: