Farmworkers Panic as ICE Raids California Fields

Agents were chasing and apprehending workers in the early hours of the morning.

As protests against immigration enforcement rage on in Los Angeles, despite the efforts of local law enforcement and the military, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids have expanded into California's agricultural centers.

Just 70 miles to the northwest of L.A., eyewitnesses told ABC7 News that ICE agents arrived at an Oxnard, California, farm around 6 a.m. on Tuesday. The agents, who were captured on video, then ran through fields of crops, chasing and apprehending on-duty farmworkers. It's unclear how many people were detained, although FBI Los Angeles confirmed the operation was part of immigration enforcement tactics.

Oxnard's mayor, Luis McArthur, responded to the arrests via a Facebook video, stating, "These actions are completely unjustified and harmful. They create chaos and distress in our community without contributing much to public safety." 

Although President Donald Trump has made immigration policy a priority in his administration since retaking office, federal immigration authorities have mostly refrained from enforcement action in farming communities. "Today we are seeing an uptick in the chaotic presence of immigration enforcement, particularly the Border Patrol," Elizabeth Strater, vice president of the United Farm Workers, told the Los Angeles Times. Strater says she has seen an increase in reports of agents patrolling near fields across southern California, causing panic about stops and warrantless arrests.  

According to research from the University of California Merced, at least half of the approximately 255,700 farmworkers in California are undocumented, with some estimates reaching as high as 75 percent. "These are people who are going to be afraid to take their kids to school, afraid to go to graduation, afraid to go to the grocery store," said Strater. Beyond farmworkers, agents have also reportedly engaged in racial profiling, stopping nonwhite people as they drive to work.

Reps. Julia Brownley (D–Calif.) and Salud Carbajal (D–Calif.), who represent the area, condemned the raids, stating, "These actions are completely unjustified, deeply harmful, and raise serious concerns about the agency's tactics and its respect for due process." 

Questions of due process aside, the ramifications of these raids may reach Americans far beyond the Oxnard Plain. California is the largest food producer in the United States, producing over a third of the country's vegetables, over three-quarters of the country's fruits and nuts, and $59.4 billion in cash receipts for output in 2023. Globally, the state's farm and ranch exports totaled $23.6 billion in 2022. Losing such a significant portion of the farm workforce due to ICE detention, deportation, or fear will likely lead to severe supply-chain disruptions, closed agricultural businesses, and higher prices for American consumers until the industry can adapt.