The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information on a man who appeared to shoot at immigration authorities during a massive Thursday raid at California marijuana farms that allegedly used child labor from illegal immigrant unaccompanied minors.
[RELATED: Anti-ICE Activists Charged in Alleged Plot to Ambush Federal Officers, Shooting a Police Officer…]
“On July 10 at approximately 2:26 PM, an unknown individual appeared to fire a pistol at federal law enforcement officers. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to conviction. The incident occurred on Laguna Rd between Wood Rd and Las Posas Rd near Camarillo. Make no mistake: anyone who targets our agents will face the full force of federal prosecution,” said U.S. Customs and Border Patrol [CBP] in a post including a video of the apparent shooting.
The video shows a man wearing a mask appear to pull out a handgun and shoot in the direction of federal agents conducting an immigration raid at the massive marijuana farm in Camarillo, California.
The operation targeted two marijuana operations simultaneously, the one in Camarillo, and another in Carpinteria, California, both owned by Glass House Farms.
“Glass House Farms were visited today by ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcment] Officials. The company fully complied with agent search warrants and will provide further updates if necessary,” said the company on X.
According to reporter Bill Melugin, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) acquired a warrant for a raid on the farms after determining that the company allegedly employed illegal aliens.
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) was quick to condemn the raids after footage surfaced showing immigration authorities using tear gas to subdue protesters who were impeding their operation.
Gov. Newsom lamented that video showed children fleeing tear gas, without apparently considering why children would be at a marijuana farm during the work-day in the first place.
“Kids running from tear gas, crying on the phone because their mother was just taken from the fields. Trump calls me “Newscum” — but he’s the real scum,” said Newsom.
In response to Newsom’s post, CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott revealed that Glass House Farms was not only allegedly employing illegal aliens, but also reportedly employing at least 10 illegal alien children on their drug farms, including eight unaccompanied minors.
“Here’s some breaking news: 10 juveniles were found at this marijuana facility – all illegal aliens, 8 of them unaccompanied. It’s now under investigation for child labor violations. This is Newsom’s California,” said Scott on X.
In response to that discovery, federal authorities are now investigating Glass House Farms for potential violations of child-labor laws.
ICE officials collaborated with CBP and even the National Guard in conducting the massive raids, which included military-style vehicles.
The man who appeared to shoot at authorities was not the only protester who apparently used violence against immigration authorities. Additional footage shows a group of protesters throwing large bricks at ICE vehicles.
Another video from the raids shows protesters trying ineffectually to physically hold back military vehicles, while one protester apparently tries to stop or damage them by shoving a Mexican flag into their wheel-wells.
According to U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, multiple protesters were arrested for attempting to impede law enforcement.
“Federal agents are executing a search warrant at this marijuana farm. Agents have already arrested multiple individuals for impeding this operation and will continue to make arrests. Don’t interfere. You will be arrested and charged with a federal offense,” said Essayli.
According to a local fire department, they transported three individuals to a hospital for treatment, though they provided scant details on the patients or the nature or cause of their injuries.
It is not yet clear how many protesters were arrested as a result of the raid, or how many illegal immigrants were taken into custody.
