LOS ANGELES—California’s greatest authorized marijuana grower stated 9 of its staff have been detained in a federal immigration enforcement operation final month that netted lots of of arrests, and that the enterprise has ended its relationship with two labor contractors that provided its farmworkers.
The assertion got here almost a month after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) brokers entered Glass Home’s farms in Camarillo and Carpinteria, northwest of Los Angeles, and arrested about 360 folks. Federal officers characterised the operation as one of many largest immigration operations since President Donald Trump took workplace in January.
In Camarillo, armored automobiles blocked the highway exterior whereas demonstrators confronted off with federal brokers who fired tear gasoline to disperse them. Inside, one farmworker fell from a greenhouse roof whereas operating to cover from authorities and later died from his accidents.
Glass Home Manufacturers stated in an announcement it was served a federal search warrant at its two farms for an investigation into suspected immigration violations.
After the operation, federal authorities stated brokers discovered 14 unlawful immigrant kids on the Camarillo property and that it was investigating potential little one labor, human trafficking, and different abuse.
The corporate didn’t affirm that minors have been on the website and stated not one of the 9 staff have been teenagers.
Glass Home stated it labored with farm labor contractors that have been required to make sure employees have been at the least 21 years outdated, according to California’s marijuana-growing laws.
“Some other people detained or arrested would have been both staff of third-party contractors offering providers on the Firm’s Camarillo farm,” Glass Home stated in an announcement on Monday, including that it’s now working with different contractors.
The corporate stated it additionally employed consultants to help with figuring out the employment eligibility of its staff and people of its contractors.
The operation got here greater than a month into an prolonged immigration crackdown throughout Southern California that was initially centered in Los Angeles.
On-line court docket data don’t present any federal expenses filed in opposition to Glass Home. Messages in search of remark have been left with the U.S. Legal professional’s workplace in Los Angeles and the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety.
It’s authorized to develop and promote hashish in California with correct licensing. State data confirmed Glass Home had a number of lively licenses to domesticate hashish on the time of the operations.
Should you discovered this text attention-grabbing, please take into account supporting conventional journalism
Our first version was revealed 25 years in the past from a basement in Atlanta. At the moment, The Epoch Occasions brings fact-based, award-winning journalism to hundreds of thousands of Individuals.
Our journalists have been threatened, arrested, and assaulted, however our dedication to unbiased journalism has by no means wavered. This 12 months marks our twenty fifth 12 months of unbiased reporting, free from company and political affect.
That’s why you’re invited to a limited-time introductory provide — simply $1 per week — so you possibly can be a part of hundreds of thousands already celebrating unbiased information.
