California farmworker who fell from greenhouse roof during chaotic ICE
raid dies
[July 14, 2025]
By OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A farmworker who fell from a greenhouse roof during
a chaotic ICE raid this week at a California cannabis facility died
Saturday of his injuries.
Jaime Alanis, 57, is the first known person to die during one of the
Trump administration’s ongoing immigration enforcement operations.
Yesenia Duran, Alanis' niece, confirmed his death to The Associated
Press.
Duran posted on the fundraising site GoFundMe that her uncle was his
family's only provider and he had been sending his earnings back to a
wife and daughter in Mexico. Alanis worked at the farm for 10 years, his
family said.
The United Farm Workers reported Alanis’ death prematurely late Friday.
The Ventura County Medical Center later issued a statement authorized by
the family saying he was still on life support.
“These violent and cruel federal actions terrorize American communities,
disrupt the American food supply chain, threaten lives and separate
families,” the UFW said recently in a statement on the social platform
X. The union does not represent workers at the raided farm.
The Department of Homeland Security said it executed criminal search
warrants Thursday at Glass House Farms facilities in Camarillo and
Carpinteria. Glass House is a licensed cannabis grower. The farm in
Camarillo also grows tomatoes and cucumbers.
Alanis called family to say he was hiding and possibly was fleeing
agents before he fell about 30 feet (9 meters) from the roof and broke
his neck, according to information from family, hospital and government
sources.
Agents arrested some 200 people suspected of being in the country
illegally and identified at least 10 immigrant children on the sites,
DHS said in a statement. Alanis was not among them, the agency said.
“This man was not in and has not been in CBP or ICE custody,” DHS
Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said in a
statement. “Although he was not being pursued by law enforcement, this
individual climbed up to the roof of a greenhouse and fell 30 feet. CBP
immediately called a medivac to the scene to get him care as quickly as
possible.”
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This undated photo provided by his family shows Jaime Alanis inside
Ventura County Medical Center, after he was injured during an
immigration raid on Thursday, July 10, 2025 in Camarillo, Calif.
(Family photo via AP)
Four U.S. citizens were arrested during the incident for allegedly
“assaulting or resisting officers,” according to DHS, and
authorities were offering a $50,000 reward for information leading
to the arrest of a person suspected of firing a gun at federal
agents.
During the raid crowds of people gathered outside the facility in
Camarillo to seek information about their relatives and protest
immigration enforcement. Authorities clad in military-style helmets
and uniforms faced off with the demonstrators, and people ultimately
retreated amid acrid green and white billowing smoke.
Glass House said in a statement that immigration agents had valid
warrants. The company said workers were detained and it is helping
provide them with legal representation.
“Glass House has never knowingly violated applicable hiring
practices and does not and has never employed minors,” it said.
The business was co-founded by Graham Farrar and Kyle Kazan. Farrar
has donated to California Democrats including Gov. Gavin Newsom, a
vocal critic of Republican President Donald Trump, according to
campaign finance records. Kazan has donated to both Democrats and
Republicans.
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