Feds Arrest 361 at California Cannabis Farms Raid \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Federal agents arrested 361 people during immigration raids at cannabis farms in Southern California. One worker died and U.S. citizens were among those detained in the Trump administration’s largest crackdown yet. Advocates warn of growing fear in immigrant communities as legal challenges escalate.
Quick Looks
- Over 360 arrests made in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.
- One farmworker died during the chaotic federal raids.
- The raids target Glass House Farms in Camarillo and Carpinteria.
- DHS cites possible labor abuse, child labor, and trafficking.
- Four U.S. citizens arrested, including a disabled Army veteran.
- Immigration enforcement causes fear in immigrant communities.
- A federal judge halted blanket immigration stops in California counties.
- LA Mayor proposes emergency cash aid for impacted residents.
- DOJ appeals ruling that limits Trump’s immigration sweep.
- Reports of minors at farms remain unconfirmed by California officials.
Deep Look
In one of the largest immigration enforcement operations of President Donald Trump’s second term, federal agents raided two cannabis farms in Southern California last week, arresting 361 individuals and igniting a firestorm of political, legal, and humanitarian backlash.
The coordinated operation took place Thursday at Glass House Farms facilities in Camarillo and Carpinteria, agricultural hubs northwest of Los Angeles. Officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said they were executing criminal search warrants related to labor abuse, child labor, and possible human trafficking. But the aftermath has left communities shaken, families in fear, and advocates scrambling for accountability.
One man, 57-year-old Jaime Alanis, died after falling from a greenhouse roof during the chaotic raid in Camarillo. Alanis, a 10-year employee of the farm, had reportedly called his wife in Mexico to say he was hiding from federal agents. His death, confirmed by his niece and shared via GoFundMe, marks the first known fatality in Trump’s renewed immigration crackdown.
Initially, DHS reported around 200 arrests. That number grew to 319 by Saturday and then climbed to 361 by Sunday, as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem took to X (formerly Twitter) to call it “one of the largest operations since President Trump took office.”
Among those arrested were four U.S. citizens, including Jonathan Caravello, a California State University Channel Islands professor. According to DHS, Caravello was arrested for allegedly throwing a tear gas canister at federal officers. The university’s faculty union says he was trying to move the canister away from a person in a wheelchair. Caravello was granted release on $15,000 bond and is set to be arraigned on August 1.
Another U.S. citizen, George Retes, a 25-year-old disabled Army veteran and farm security guard, was arrested after reportedly trying to leave the Camarillo site during the protest chaos. His family says he was pepper-sprayed and forcibly removed from his vehicle by federal agents who believed he was part of the demonstration. Retes was held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles for several days before being released.
Glass House Brands, the cannabis company targeted in the raid, began operations in Carpinteria a decade ago and later expanded to Camarillo, where it repurposed two of six greenhouse structures for cannabis cultivation. Relatives of workers said that the Camarillo site still also grows tomatoes, suggesting a mix of agricultural uses that may have created confusion or legal gray areas during the raid.
One of the most explosive allegations from DHS is the presence of 14 immigrant children on the premises. No detailed information has been provided about their identities, ages, or legal guardianship status. Federal officials have not said whether the minors were working or if they were with family members. California law allows children as young as 12 to work in agriculture under certain conditions, though no one under 21 may legally work in the cannabis industry.
Notably, a California Department of Cannabis Control inspection in May 2025 found no minors on-site. After a recent complaint, the agency reopened an investigation but has not publicly confirmed any violations.
Civil rights and immigrant advocacy groups have condemned the raids, particularly as they follow weeks of federal enforcement sweeps across Southern California. Initially focused on Los Angeles, the raids have rapidly expanded across seven counties, triggering widespread fear.
A federal judge on Friday issued an injunction barring indiscriminate immigration stops and arrests in several California counties. In response, the Justice Department appealed the ruling Monday, calling the court order “indefensible on every level.” DOJ attorneys argue that immigration agents must be able to consider factors like language, work type, and location in making enforcement decisions, and claim that the judge’s order undermines legal standards.
As tensions rise, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has signed a sweeping executive order aimed at mitigating fallout from immigration raids. The directive includes:
- A working group within the LAPD focused on immigrant protections
- Citywide training for employees to prepare for federal enforcement
- A request for records on what the city describes as unlawful raids
- Emergency cash assistance—funded by philanthropic partners—for residents afraid to leave home
The cash aid will be administered via prepaid cards, similar to those used during the COVID-19 pandemic, and is intended to help immigrants avoid falling into economic despair due to fears of detainment.
“This is a moment to stand up for the people who help our city thrive,” Mayor Bass said in a statement. “No family should have to choose between feeding their children and staying safe from federal raids.”
While DHS continues to cite potential child labor and trafficking as the basis for the raids, no criminal charges have yet been filed against Glass House Brands. The company has not commented on the specifics of the case but is reportedly cooperating with the investigation.
As the fallout continues, the Glass House raids are drawing national attention—not only because of the scale and violence involved but because they signal a new phase in the Trump administration’s broader campaign to expand immigration enforcement into workplaces and essential industries.
For many in Southern California’s immigrant-heavy farming communities, the fear is palpable—and growing.
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