Federal immigration authorities conducted a large-scale enforcement operation Thursday morning at a cannabis cultivation site in Ventura County, California, that ended in a violent confrontation involving tear gas, projectiles and gunfire.
The operation, led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), targeted Glass House Farms in Carpinteria as part of a broader effort to identify and detain individuals believed to be in the country illegally and working without authorization.
The site is located in the state’s agricultural belt, where enforcement activity has increased in recent months.
According to federal officials, ICE agents encountered resistance as they attempted to detain multiple individuals.
Protesters and apparent farmworkers gathered in front of the facility, blocking vehicle access and refusing orders to disperse.
Smoke canisters and tear gas were deployed when the crowd failed to move, and officials say at least one individual fired a weapon during the standoff.
Over 100 individuals were present at the scene, and authorities requested National Guard support.
A white ICE transport bus escorted by a military vehicle was later seen leaving the area with several detainees.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not released the exact number of individuals arrested.
Emergency services in Ventura County declared a