The United Farm Workers (UFW) said in a Friday social media post that “a farm worker has died of injuries” sustained during immigration raids conducted on a Ventura County, California, cannabis farm on Thursday.

The labor union told Newsweek in an earlier statement that some farm workers were “critically injured.”

Newsweek has reached out to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and UFW for comment via email on Friday. Newsweek has also reached out to the Ventura County Medical Center for confirmation via phone and email on Friday.

Why It Matters

Under President Donald Trump’s second term, the administration has spearheaded a major immigration crackdown, vowing to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history. The initiative has seen an intensification of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across the country.

In June, protests against ICE raids in Los Angeles turned violent over several days, with individuals throwing rocks at police and setting vehicles on fire. Trump deployed more than 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to the city against the wishes of California Governor Gavin Newsom, sparking an ongoing political tiff and legal challenge over jurisdiction.

The death is among the first reported during an ICE raid.

What To Know

In a Friday update on X, formerly Twitter, UFW wrote, “We tragically can confirm that a farm worker has died of injuries they sustained as a result of yesterday’s immigration enforcement action.”

The identity of the individual has not yet been publicly shared by UFW, however the Associated Press reported that farm worker Jaime Alanis was in the hospital after having fallen from the roof.

His niece, Yesenia, posted on a GoFundMe raising money for his medical and burial fees, that her uncle “was chased by ICE agents, and we were told he fell 30ft.”

As of Friday evening, the GoFundMe has received more than 1,200 donations totaling over $38,000.

Yesenia told the AP that her uncle had a broken neck, fractured skull, and ruptured an artery that delivers blood to his brain.

Newsweek has reached out to Yesenia for comment via GoFundMe on Friday.

ICE raids targeted two Glass House Farms in Camarillo and Carpinteria, in what the DHS said resulted in “at least 10 migrant children” rescued from “potential exploitation, forced labor, and human trafficking” and the arrest of approximately “200 illegal aliens.”

ICE agents, backed by National Guard troops in military-style vehicles, clashed with hundreds of protestors at the raids. California Governor Gavin Newsom posted a video on social media showing children running from tear gas reportedly deployed by federal officers during the raid in Camarillo.

The Ventura County Fire Department confirmed in an X, formerly Twitter, post its services were “dispatched at approximately 12:15pm on Thursday, July 10th to provide medical aid as a result of federal enforcement activity along Laguna Road in the Oxnard Plains.”

DHS said in a Friday statement that “four U.S. citizens are being criminally processed for assaulting or resisting officers,” noting that the demonstrators damaged federal vehicles and “one violent agitator fired a gun at law enforcement officers.”

The UFW said in a Friday statement that the labor union “can confirm farm workers were critically injured yesterday during chaotic raids in Ventura County, California. Others, including US citizens remain totally unaccounted for.” The union also posted the statement on their social media.

The statement continued: “Many workers-including US citizens, were held by federal authorities at the farm for 8 hours or more. US citizen workers report only being released after they were forced to delete photos and videos of the raid from their phones.”

Videos circulating of the raid online show people running from immigration agents, dozens of demonstrators confronting lines of uniformed officers along a road between fields, and wafting smoke. The protests continued for hours, with ABC 7 reporting they went on past 11 p.m. Thursday.

The union also stated it’s “aware of reports of child labor on site. The UFW demands the immediate facilitation of independent legal representation for the minor workers, to protect them from further harm. Farm workers are excluded from basic child labor laws.” The statement concluded with a call to end the raids “immediately.”

What People Are Saying

Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Newsweek in a emailed statement: “This man was not in and has not been in CBP or ICE custody. Although he was not being pursued by law enforcement, this individual climbed up to the roof of a green house and fell 30 feet. CBP immediately called a medivac to the scene to get him care as quickly as possible.”

Glass House Farms wrote in an X post on July 10: “Glass House Farms were visited today by ICE Officials. The company fully complied with agent search warrants and will provide further updates if necessary.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott said in a Thursday X post: “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.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom shared Scott’s post and added on X: “California prosecutes child exploiters and traffickers. Trump tear-gasses children, rips them from their parents, and deports farmworkers. Priorities.”

Representative Salud Carbajal, a California Democrat, said in a July 11 X post: “Yesterday in Carpinteria, I witnessed ICE agents using unnecessarily aggressive and militarized tactics against local farm workers and peaceful protesters. It was appalling. This is not how we keep our communities safe. As a Member of Congress, I have the legal right to oversee federal operations. Yet, I was denied entry.”

What Happens Next?

The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) is offering $50,000 for any information leading to the arrest of the individual who fired at the federal officers.

The administration is expected to continue conducting ICE raids across the country.

Update 7/11/25, 8:56 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

Update 7/11/25, 6:29 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

Update 7/11/25, 6:17 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

Update 7/11/25, 5:50 p.m. ET: This headline has been updated to report on the death of a farm worker. The article has been updated with additional information.

Update 7/11/25, 5:31 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

Update 7/11/25, 4:24 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.