Federal Judge Orders Halt to Indiscriminate Immigration Stops in Southern California After 14 Children Rescued in Farm Raid

Los Angeles, California – A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order limiting the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) immigration enforcement tactics in Southern California, following a raid on Glass House Farms last week where DHS reported rescuing 14 children from potential exploitation. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, a Biden appointee, prohibits federal agents from conducting indiscriminate stops and arrests based solely on factors such as apparent race, accent, location, or type of work.

The DHS operations, which occurred on July 10, 2025, at Glass House Farms facilities in Camarillo and Carpinteria, led to the arrest of over 300 individuals. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated that law enforcement "rescued 14 children from potential forced labor, exploitation, and trafficking" during the operations. Glass House Farms, a major cannabis company, denied knowingly employing minors, stating on social media, "Glass House has never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors."

The raids were marked by controversy, including the death of 57-year-old farmworker Jaime Alanis, who fell from a greenhouse roof while reportedly attempting to evade agents. Protests erupted at the sites, leading to clashes with federal agents and the arrest of some U.S. citizens for resisting officers. The FBI also offered a reward for information on an individual who allegedly fired a gun at federal agents during the unrest.

Judge Frimpong's injunction, issued on July 11, 2025, covers seven Southern California counties, including Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara. The ruling, stemming from a lawsuit filed by civil rights organizations, found a "mountain of evidence" that ICE and U.S. Border Patrol agents were "indiscriminately rounding up numerous individuals without reasonable suspicion." It also mandates that detainees be granted access to legal counsel.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized the judge's decision, stating it "is undermining the will of the American people." The United Farm Workers union commented on the broader issue of child labor in agriculture, noting that "detaining and deporting children is not a solution for child labor." The state's Department of Cannabis Control has an open investigation into child labor complaints at Glass House, though a May inspection found no violations.