Ag Alert June 18, 2025

Ventura County raids alarm California farm community

Farm employers’ rights and responsibilities when responding to immigration enforcement Farm employers and employees have constitutional rights federal agencies must respect. Farm Employers Labor Service advises taking these steps:

By Caleb Hampton Federal agents conducted immigration enforcement operations on farm sites across the Oxnard Plain in Ventura County last week, according to local farmers and government officials. The raids came as farms in the region were wrapping up the strawberry season and harvesting fresh vegetables, raspberries and other crops. On June 10, between 5 and 10:30 a.m., agents attempted to enter at least 10 dif- ferent farm fields and five packinghous- es, said Maureen McGuire, chief execu- tive officer of the Farm Bureau of Ventura County. McGuire said she spoke directly with farm employers and personnel to ver- ify reports of immigration enforcement. At least 35 farmworkers were detained in the operation, according to commu- nity organizations that provide legal aid to immigrants. The workplace raids marked the first time the Trump administration’s mass deportation effort brought large numbers of immigration enforcement agents onto California farms. It came following orders from the White House that immigration authorities ramp up daily detentions of undocumented immigrants. “Growers are very concerned about their workforce,” said Helen McGrath, a director at the Farm Bureau of Ventura County who grows citrus and avocados. She said she

spoke with with three growers whose farms were visited by immigration authorities. “It’s affected all of us,” a Ventura County strawberry grower said. The third-gener- ation grower, who asked not to be named out of concern for his workers, said the op- eration was the largest immigration raid he had observed in decades, with “roving convoys” of Border Patrol vehicles driving among his fields. The grower received a video on June 10 that one of his foremen recorded at a straw- berry field that morning. It showed multiple Border Patrol vehicles appearing to pursue a minivan along dirt roads that wound be- tween fields. According to the foreman, the van’s passengers worked at a nearby farm. A separate pursuit, which was recorded in a widely circulated video, showed two agents on foot chasing and detaining a man in a field of peppers neighboring the grower’s strawberry fields. “They raided a farm right across the street from us,” a different farmer told Ag Alert ® . Because immigration authorities re- portedly lacked judicial warrants entitling them to enter private farms and packing- houses, they were denied access to several farm properties, according to the coun- ty Farm Bureau. California law prohibits employers from voluntarily allowing im- migration authorities to access private worksites without a judicial warrant.

McGuire said. “A lot of people were scared to leave their places of employment.” The raids had an immediate impact on farm operations in the region, with the California Farm Bureau and Western Growers Association reporting worker ab- sences that affected their members. “Everybody in the workforce is fearful,” one farmer said. “Normally, these fields are full of workers, and there was nobody out there today.” The strawberry grower said around 120 out of 300 workers scheduled to pick strawberries on his farm reported for work interfere with their permitted activi- ties. Employees need not hand over identification documents to agents. Anyone detained should ask for an attorney and a show-cause hearing. For more information, FELS members may visit www.fels.net/updated- dealing-with-immigration-enforcement- agencies-suggestions-and-courses-of- action-for-ag-employers. immigration status, everyone pres- ent in the U.S. is entitled to basic constitutional rights. Employees have the right to remain silent. They need not answer questions about their legal status or personal de- tails. They should insist on speak- ing with an immigration attorney before answering questions or signing documents. • Protect employees during en- forcement actions. Advise employ- ees not to run from agents. Fleeing can be seen as suspicious and entitle agents to pursue and detain individuals. You may record video of agents as long as you do not

“Agricultural operations were well in- formed and well trained,” McGrath said. “Quite a few were able to close gates and not allow immigration enforcement offi- cials onto their properties.” Prevailing sentiments among farmers whose operations were targeted were “heartbreak and disappointment,” she said, “but also pride at how their employ- ees handled the event, following protocols they’ve been trained to do.” Barred from entering some farms, im- migration authorities reportedly patrolled nearby. “They staged outside several packing sheds and were detaining people who were coming into work or leaving,” • Have a plan. Designate an executive, manager or supervisor to be responsible for interacting with enforcement agents. This person should be trained to determine if agents have the right kind of warrant to access your worksite. If they have a warrant signed by a judge, the designated person should read the document and accompany agents at all times to ensure they do not go beyond the scope of their authority as specified in the warrant. • Deny access if agents do not have a judicial warrant. Under California law, farm employers may not allow immigration enforcement agents onto private worksites without a judicial warrant. If agents do not have a judicial warrant, the employer should say, “I cannot consent, and I do not consent.” • Educate your workforce about their rights. Regardless of

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