Farmworker Dies After Fall During Federal Immigration Raid on California Cannabis Facility
- Victor Nwoko
- Jul 13
- 3 min read
A farmworker critically injured during a federal immigration raid at a cannabis facility in Southern California has died, according to his family. Jaime Alanis Garcia, who worked at Glass House Farms in Camarillo, passed away on Saturday after suffering severe injuries in a fall earlier in the week.
Garcia reportedly fell approximately 30 feet from the roof of a greenhouse during the raid conducted by federal immigration officers. His family stated he suffered a broken neck and skull, and was placed on life support until his wife arrived from Mexico to be by his side.
“His wife and parents decided today to let him rest. He has passed away,” his niece said in a statement. The family acknowledged that Garcia would not have survived the past few days without being connected to an assistive breathing machine.
The Department of Homeland Security said Garcia was not in federal custody at the time of the fall. “Although he was not being pursued by law enforcement, this individual climbed up to the roof of a greenhouse and fell 30 feet,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said. “CBP immediately called a medivac to the scene to get him care as quickly as possible.”
The Thursday raid drew widespread protest and chaos. Hundreds of demonstrators confronted immigration authorities, some throwing rocks, bricks, and allegedly firing shots at federal agents. In response, officers deployed tear gas and other less-lethal weapons. Inside the cannabis facility, dozens of employees were detained.
The cannabis grow site in Camarillo was one of two Glass House Farms properties raided that day. According to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the operation resulted in the arrest of 319 undocumented migrants and the removal of 14 minors suspected of being victims of potential forced labor, exploitation, or trafficking.
Teresa Romero, president of United Farm Workers (UFW), expressed grief over Garcia’s death and outrage over the government’s actions. “Our hearts are heavy for the grieving family of Jaime Alanis, who died from injuries sustained during a chaotic raid,” she said. “We’ll do everything we can to support them.”
Romero further called on authorities to provide legal representation to the children apprehended during the operation. She criticized the treatment of farmworkers, especially minors, noting they are excluded from many of the protections provided by federal child labor laws. “Detaining and deporting children is not a solution,” she added.
Romero also said some U.S. citizens were mistakenly swept up in the enforcement action and warned that such federal raids disrupt communities and damage critical parts of the food supply chain. “These violent and cruel federal actions terrorize American communities, disrupt the American food supply chain, threaten lives, and separate families,” she stated.
In a recent court victory for immigrant and civil rights groups, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order limiting immigration enforcement actions based on profiling and suspicionless stops. The suit was led by UFW, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, the ACLU, and others, with backing from the state of California, the city of Los Angeles, and additional jurisdictions.
The raid follows weeks of escalating tension in California, where mass demonstrations and previous immigration crackdowns had already sparked political backlash. In response to rising tensions, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass signed a directive requiring all city departments and contractors to prepare for future federal immigration operations.
Former President Donald Trump responded to the Camarillo raid and protests by praising law enforcement’s actions, saying authorities should use “whatever means is necessary” to apprehend individuals violating immigration laws.
Garcia’s death has become a flashpoint in a growing debate over immigration enforcement, labor protections, and human rights in U.S. agricultural sectors.
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