LOS ANGELES—California’s largest authorized marijuana grower mentioned 9 of its staff have been detained in a federal immigration enforcement operation final month that netted tons of of arrests, and that the enterprise has ended its relationship with two labor contractors that equipped 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 individuals. Federal officers characterised the operation as one of many largest immigration operations since President Donald Trump took workplace in January.
In Camarillo, armored autos blocked the street exterior whereas demonstrators confronted off with federal brokers who fired tear gasoline to disperse them. Inside, one farmworker fell from a greenhouse roof whereas working to cover from authorities and later died from his accidents.
Glass Home Manufacturers mentioned 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 mentioned 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 web site and mentioned not one of the 9 staff have been teenagers.
Glass Home mentioned it labored with farm labor contractors that have been required to make sure employees have been no less than 21 years outdated, in step with California’s marijuana-growing rules.
“Any other individuals detained or arrested would have been either employees of third-party contractors providing services at the Company’s Camarillo farm,” Glass Home mentioned in an announcement on Monday, including that it’s now working with different contractors.
The corporate mentioned 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 information don’t present any federal prices filed in opposition to Glass Home. Messages looking for remark have been left with the U.S. Lawyer’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 information confirmed Glass Home had a number of energetic licenses to domesticate hashish on the time of the operations.
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