Federal agents with a search warrant for suspected immigration and labor violations at cannabis farms in Ventura County, California, were met by hundreds of protesters on Thursday, including one man who appeared to fire a gun at them.
The feds conducted immigration raids at two Glass House Farms, a state-licensed marijuana facility that is allegedly employing illegal immigrants, including children, according to Fox News. After getting word of the immigration operations at a cannabis farm in Camarillo, approximately 60 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, around 500 protesters arrived to confront federal authorities, The Los Angeles Times reported. The other farm is located in Carpinteria, about 35 miles up the coast, where a smaller group of protesters gathered.
The standoff quickly turned violent as federal agents attempted to disperse the crowd with smoke canisters, and news helicopter video captured the moment when one man appeared to fire a handgun at authorities.
As agents were leaving the farm with detainees, a group of protesters pelted their vehicles with rocks, smashing windows. Following the confrontation, four people were taken to the hospital, and three people were treated at the scene, FOX Los Angeles reported. It’s unclear if any federal authorities were among the injured.
“Federal agents are executing a search warrant at this marijuana farm,” said Bill Essayli, the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California. “Agents have already arrested multiple individuals for impeding this operation and will continue to make arrests. Don’t interfere. You will be arrested and charged with a federal offense.”
Federal agents are executing a search warrant at this marijuana farm. Agents have already arrested multiple individuals for impeding this operation and will continue to make arrests. Don’t interfere. You will be arrested and charged with a federal offense. https://t.co/KMwZ5WToOc
— U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) July 11, 2025
In a later post on social media, Essayli said that the “FBI has issued a $50,000 award for information leading to the conviction of an Unknown Subject who appeared to fire a pistol at Federal Law Enforcement Officers near Camarillo.”
FBI has issued a $50,000 award for information leading to the conviction of an Unknown Subject who appeared to fire a pistol at Federal Law Enforcement Officers near Camarillo. The shooting occurred on 7/10/25 at approximately 2:26pm on Laguna Rd between Wood Rd and Las Posas Rd.… pic.twitter.com/XG94sTQEVR
— U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) July 11, 2025
Video of the immigration raid posted by California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom appeared to show workers and protesters running away as federal agents fired tear gas into the crowd.
“Kids running from tear gas, crying on the phone because their mother was just taken from the fields,” Newsom wrote. “Trump calls me ‘Newscum’ — but he’s the real scum.”
Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott responded to Newsom’s post on X, writing, “Here’s some breaking news: 10 juveniles were found at this marijuana facility – all illegal aliens, 8 of them unaccompanied. It’s now under investigation for child labor violations. This is Newsom’s California.”
Here’s some breaking news: 10 juveniles were found at this marijuana facility – all illegal aliens, 8 of them unaccompanied. It’s now under investigation for child labor violations.
This is Newsom’s California. https://t.co/Z1XoRMtBSN
— CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott (@CBPCommissioner) July 11, 2025
Other California Democrats also condemned the raid at the cannabis farm. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA), who represents the district where one of the raided farms is located, called the operation “disproportionate” and “overkill,” warning that the federal government’s “tactics” would lead to more violence.
“These tactics are creating an incendiary, hostile environment the way they are being deployed, which could lead to, regrettably, violence in the future,” he said.
Thursday’s attack on immigration agents comes as federal authorities face mounting threats. Earlier this week, a gunman in tactical gear opened fire on Border Patrol agents in McAllen, Texas, wounding two police officers and a Border Patrol employee before he was killed. Ten people were also arrested this week after they attacked an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Alvarado, Texas, on July 4, shooting and wounding a law enforcement officer.
The Trump administration has blasted Democrats for using “dangerous, inflammatory rhetoric” aimed at ICE agents. Some Democrats have compared ICE’s operations to the Gestapo.
“ICE agents put their lives on the line every day to get the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens off our streets and out of our communities,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. “They are making America safer, and Democrats are shamelessly attacking them for it.”