Oxnard resident Gia Zelaya collects spent smoke canisters and other detritus from the side of Laguna Road outside of Camarillo on July 11, 2025, the morning after protesters clashed with federal immigration agents.
Camarillo, California – A federal immigration raid at a licensed cannabis farm in Southern California on Thursday revealed a troubling discovery: ten undocumented minors, including a 14-year-old, were found working or present on site. The incident has prompted a federal investigation into potential child labor violations and human trafficking—though the circumstances remain unclear and politically charged.
The raid, which took place at Glass House Farms in Ventura County, quickly escalated into chaos. Protesters clashed with federal agents for several hours, with one masked individual allegedly firing shots before fleeing. Authorities are now offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the suspect’s arrest.
Federal officials say eight of the minors were “rescued” and identified as unaccompanied migrants who had crossed the U.S.-Mexico border without guardians. Department of Homeland Security officials described the situation as indicative of “exploitation, violation of child labor laws and potentially human trafficking or smuggling.” But others have raised questions about the assumptions being made, noting that some of the minors may be the children of adult workers on site.
Glass House Farms has denied knowingly employing minors or violating hiring laws. In a statement, the company said it complied with all federal warrants and is working to ensure legal representation for detained employees. “Glass House has never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors,” the company wrote. “We will provide additional details when applicable.”
Graham Farrar, the company’s president and a frequent donor to Democratic candidates and causes, expressed frustration and uncertainty. “We have a lot of questions too,” he posted to X, formerly Twitter, adding that the company is focused on “taking care of our people and our plants.”
The raid came amid intensifying federal immigration enforcement efforts in California, especially under the renewed push from former President Donald Trump during his re-election campaign. The Biden administration, for its part, has faced criticism for losing track of over 320,000 unaccompanied migrant children, according to a government watchdog report—many of whom are feared to be at risk of exploitation.
The scene at Glass House Farms, with armored vehicles, tear gas, and protesters clashing with agents, underscores the fraught intersection of immigration policy, labor enforcement, and the still-evolving cannabis industry. Though cannabis is legal in California, it remains a federally controlled substance, creating murky legal terrain for businesses that rely on agricultural labor, often from immigrant communities.
As the federal probe continues, the question remains: were these children victims of an exploitative labor scheme, or simply caught in the complex web of modern immigration enforcement? With few clear answers and intense political scrutiny, the Glass House Farms raid has become a flashpoint in California’s ongoing battle over labor rights, immigration policy, and public safety.
