SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — A farm worker has died and hundreds of others have been detained following a dramatic immigration raid at a cannabis nursery in rural California — the latest flashpoint in the Trump administration’s aggressive campaign to deport undocumented immigrants.
The worker, Jaime Alanis, died from injuries sustained after a 30-foot fall during Thursday’s chaotic raid at Glass House Farms, a large cannabis operation. Immigration agents stormed two locations of the farm at dawn, arresting approximately 200 undocumented workers, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Amid rising tensions, dozens of migrant-rights activists confronted heavily armed agents, some of whom reportedly used tear gas and smoke canisters on protesters. Photos and videos from the scene showed workers and advocates scrambling as helicopters circled overhead and agents in helmets moved in formation.
Officials confirmed that 10 minors were also found working at the site, now under investigation for child labor violations. DHS stated that Alanis was not being pursued when he climbed onto a greenhouse roof and fell, and that emergency medical services were immediately called.
Alanis, described by his family as a primary breadwinner, was memorialized on a GoFundMe page seeking funds for his burial in Mexico.
“They took one of our family members. We need justice,” the family wrote.
The raid has sparked nationwide outrage, with U.S. District Judge Maame Frimpong on Friday issuing emergency orders blocking parts of the administration’s immigration operations. Her ruling prohibits racial profiling and denial of legal counsel to detainees, calling the government’s actions a violation of the Fourth and Fifth Amendments.
“What the federal government would have this Court believe — in the face of a mountain of evidence — is that none of this is actually happening,” Judge Frimpong wrote.
U.S. citizens were also reportedly detained during the raid. Some were only released after deleting footage from their phones, according to the United Farm Workers (UFW) union. Others said they were denied contact with legal aid until after signing voluntary deportation orders — allegations DHS strongly denies.
“These violent and cruel federal actions terrorize communities, threaten lives, and endanger the American food supply,” said UFW President Teresa Romero.
Farmworker advocacy groups, including California Rural Legal Assistance, warn the crackdown could cripple the U.S. agricultural workforce, with many fearing this may be the start of wider deportation sweeps across rural America.
Though Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins recently reaffirmed a “no amnesty” policy, former President Donald Trump has repeatedly signaled support for allowing migrant labor to remain on farms — underscoring a conflicted stance within the administration.
As legal battles escalate and rural communities brace for more raids, the fallout from Thursday’s operation has ignited a broader national debate over immigration enforcement, labor rights, and constitutional protections.
