What started as just another Thursday morning in Ventura County quickly spiraled into something that looked more like a battlefield than a cannabis farm.
At the heart of it all was a sudden federal immigration raid—one that triggered panic, violence, and heartbreak in the fields of Glass House Farms.
Caught in the middle? Farmworkers, families, community members, and now, the entire nation watching with unease.
Gunfire Erupts in the Middle of a Protest
Tensions exploded when an ICE protestor was seen firing a gun toward federal agents, marking a disturbing escalation in an already tense standoff.
The whole scene was captured from the sky by a news helicopter—one that just happened to be flying over during the raid.
It all unfolded just after ICE agents launched smoke canisters into a crowd of over 100 demonstrators gathered near Laguna Road, outside the farm.
Moments later, one protester pulled out a firearm and appeared to shoot toward agents, further intensifying an already volatile situation.
Smoke, Panic, and Screams Across the Fields
What began as an enforcement operation quickly spiraled into chaos.
Witnesses say federal agents sealed off the roads and stormed the site in a wave of unexpected force.
Tear gas filled the air, people screamed, some were hit, and others reached for milk cartons to pour over their burning faces.
Within minutes, a peaceful morning had turned into a scene of smoke bombs, rubber bullets, and flying projectiles.
Protesters and Workers Caught in the Crossfire
As the raid unfolded, farmworkers and their loved ones scrambled for safety. Some had been working.
Others had rushed to the scene upon hearing about the raid.
Many were undocumented or had family members who were.
The field became divided—one side filled with federal agents in tactical gear, the other with locals forming a human barrier, pleading and shouting as smoke grenades rolled in.
According to multiple eyewitnesses, the raid was aggressive, and it wasn’t clear who struck first—but it ended with people injured, hospitalized, and detained.
First Responders Called to Treat the Injured
The situation escalated to such a degree that Ventura County emergency crews declared a mass casualty incident.
Paramedics and firefighters rushed in—not to support the raid, but simply to help the wounded.
At least three people were hospitalized, with others treated on-site for injuries caused by smoke inhalation or impact from projectiles.
Families Desperately Seek Answers
Among those most shaken by the events were the families of undocumented workers, many of whom didn’t even know if their loved ones were safe.
Jessica Lopez got a call from her husband during the raid:
“He told me he was hiding,” she said, fighting back tears.
“He hasn’t broken any laws. He just works here to support us.”
Dalia Perez, whose mother has worked at Glass House for over three decades, described the moment with one word:
“Helpless,” she said. “She’s just a mother.
She’s just a worker. And now she’s running from tear gas.”
Federal Silence as Community Outrage Grows
By the afternoon, a white ICE bus escorted by what appeared to be a National Guard vehicle rolled through Laguna Road, likely transporting the day’s detainees.
The Department of Homeland Security remained tight-lipped, offering no clear count or explanation for the operation.
Meanwhile, Glass House Farms, which bought the property in 2021, also declined to comment.
But not everyone stayed quiet.
Local Leaders Condemn the Raid in Strong Terms
Steve Auclair, chair of the Ventura County Democratic Party, called the operation a “military attack on our community.”
His own mother was injured during the chaos, hit by a gas canister and a projectile.
Teresa Romero, president of the United Farm Workers, said what many others were thinking:
“There’s no reason to do this in agricultural areas.
These workers live in fear every day. Now it feels like they’re under siege.”
Trump’s Mixed Messaging Adds to Confusion
The raid comes as part of a wider crackdown on undocumented labor under President Trump’s renewed term.
Just weeks earlier, he had expressed sympathy for farmworkers, calling them “great” people and promising to protect agricultural labor from harsh enforcement.
“We’re not going to take all the farmers’ people away,” he said in June.
“There’s going to be an order on that.”
But if there’s been a shift in policy, it hasn’t reached the ground.
Raids have continued across Southern California, especially in counties with large farming communities.
Cities Push Back with Legal Action
As the federal government intensifies immigration enforcement, local governments are pushing back.
This week, Los Angeles County and eight other municipalities filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing officials of racial profiling, illegal detentions, and violations of constitutional rights.
The lawsuit specifically names Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi as defendants.
“We Just Want to Know Our Families Are Safe”
As of Thursday evening, protesters were still camped outside the gates of Glass House Farms.
Some held signs. Others just waited, searching for answers.
“We just want to know if our families are safe,” said Dalia Perez quietly.
“That’s all we want. Safety. Dignity. And some kind of peace.”