The Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) arrested roughly 200 folks with out everlasting authorized standing throughout immigration raids on Thursday at two hashish farms in California, which left one individual lifeless.
“We will affirm {that a} farm employee has died of accidents they sustained on account of yesterday’s immigration enforcement motion,” the United Farm Employees (UFW) wrote in a Friday post on the social media platform X.
In an earlier put up on Friday, the labor union stated employees on the farm, together with U.S. residents, had been held by the authorities for hours as they executed felony warrants.
“US citizen employees report solely being launched after they had been pressured to delete photographs and movies of the raid from their telephones,” the union said.
DHS didn’t instantly reply to The Hill’s request for remark relating to the fatality, however the federal company stated in a Friday assertion that greater than 500 protesters, who gathered within the space, tried to “disrupt” legislation enforcement operations. 4 U.S. residents had been arrested for assaulting or resisting officer, DHS stated.
Brokers had been recorded utilizing much less deadly ammunition and tear fuel on folks. One particular person, in accordance with officers, fired a gun at officers throughout protests after the raids.
Many Republicans on Friday applauded the federal operation whereas Democrats, together with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, bashed the transfer amid the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration throughout the nation.
“Youngsters working from tear fuel, crying on the cellphone as a result of their mom was simply taken from the fields,” he wrote on social media Thursday. “[President] Trump calls me ‘Newscum’ — however he’s the actual scum.
In a Friday assertion, officers stated that 10 youngsters with out documentation had been recognized throughout the two immigration operations in Camarillo and Carpinteria, Calif., at farms owned and operated by the Glass Home Manufacturers Inc.
Customs and Border Patrol commissioner Rodney Scott stated on Thursday that the corporate is now under investigation for youngster labor violations.
Glass Home, in response, stated it by no means deliberately employed underage employees.
Native organizers and labor leaders stated the arrests would solely result in extra turmoil.
“It’s sadly not unusual for youngsters to work within the fields. To be clear: detaining and deporting youngsters shouldn’t be an answer for youngster labor,” UFW stated in a statement. “These violent and merciless federal actions terrorize American communities, disrupt the American meals provide chain, threaten lives and separate households.”
The raids observe months of unrest in California, notably in and round Los Angeles, in response to the administration’s efforts to extend deportation numbers.