Scenes of chaos unfolded on Thursday at one of California‘s largest cannabis farms, as federal immigration agents clashed with farmworkers, family members, and protesters.
The raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Ventura County came as a complete surprise and saw smoke bombs being hurled at protesters and arrests being made.
It was just after 11am when agents descended on the Glass House Farms greenhouse facility on Laguna Road.
The sprawling cannabis operation, one of the largest in the state, was quickly sealed off with yellow crime scene tape marked ‘U.S. Border Patrol.’
There then followed tense and at times violent standoff that played out in the middle of fields lined with crops.
On one side of the road dozens of armed and masked federal agents could be seen lining up in tactical gear.
On the other, more than 100 protesters, including farmworkers, community members, and family members of those believed to be targeted.
Footage posted by the 805 Immigrant Coalition showed agents forming a blockade while demonstrators shouted expletives and refused to back down.
Several federal immigration agents were seen clashing with protesters during a raid at a agricultural farm in Ventura County Thursday morning.
Suddenly smoke grenades were seen being thrown by ICE agents leading to white smoke to fill the air around where the standoff was taking place
There were scenes of chaos on the ground as the standoff suddenly erupted into violence
Suddenly, plumes of green and white smoke erupted over the fields.
Smoke grenades were thrown though with witnesses saying it was ICE agents who started the conflict.
‘There was just smoke everywhere. People were running. It looked like war,’ said Adrian Garcia, 25, a former worker at the farm who raced to the site after hearing his cousin was inside to the Desert Sun.
‘I’ve never seen anything like this on a farm.’
Agents fired projectiles into the crowd, striking at least one person in the face, according to eyewitness accounts. Others were hit in the torso and legs.
Tear gas canisters were stomped out by protesters as others poured milk on their faces to try and calm the effects.
First responders declared a mass casualty incident. Fire and medical crews from Oxnard and Ventura County treated several people and transported three to nearby hospitals.
Ventura County Fire spokesperson Andrew Dowd confirmed emergency personnel were dispatched solely for medical aid and had no involvement in the federal operation.
The protest had initially been peaceful but once ICE agents lined the roadway the atmosphere changes
Witnesses say ICE agents threw smoke grenades sparking further chaos
As the protestors moves away they were closely followed by ICE agents
Among the crowd were relatives of undocumented workers caught in the chaos.
Jessica Lopez said she received a call from her husband around 9:30am.
‘He told me ICE was inside. He said he was hiding,’ she said. ‘He hasn’t broken any laws. He just works here to support us.’
Dalia Perez of Oxnard said her undocumented mother has worked at Glass House for more than 30 years.
‘Upset. Helpless,’ she said, describing her emotions. ‘She hasn’t done anything wrong. She’s a mother. She’s a worker.’
By 2pm, a white ICE bus escorted by what appeared to be a National Guard vehicle rolled down Laguna Road, believed to be transporting detainees.
The Department of Homeland Security has not yet confirmed the number of people taken into custody.
