California marijuana farm raids recover 10 children after 300,000 unaccompanied minors vanished on Biden's watch



Immigration raids in California led to the shocking discovery of several unaccompanied children. Federal officials are investigating whether these minors were exploited or trafficked.

On Thursday, multiple federal agencies, armed with warrants for illegal employees, swept two state-licensed marijuana facilities in Camarillo and Carpinteria operated by Glass House Farms, Fox News Digital reported.

'The Biden administration lost ~300,000 unaccompanied children — many of these innocent children were trafficked and exploited.'

Protesters gathered at the site after learning about the raids. Federal authorities used tear gas and smoke bombs to disperse the crowd.

California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) condemned the Trump administration's immigration raids.

He wrote in a post on social media, "Kids running from tear gas, crying on the phone because their mother was just taken from the fields. Trump calls me 'Newscum' — but he's the real scum."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott fired back, telling Newsom that the raid resulted in the discovery of several unaccompanied minor migrants who may have been illegally working on the farm.

"Here's some breaking news: 10 juveniles were found at this marijuana facility — all illegal aliens, 8 of them unaccompanied. It's now under investigation for child labor violations," Scott wrote. "This is Newsom's California."

RELATED: Video shows protester apparently shooting at federal agents during immigration operation at California farm

  Photo by BLAKE FAGAN/AFP via Getty Images

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin confirmed Scott's reports, adding that the children appeared to be the victims of exploitation.

"At the Ventura, California marijuana facility, @ICEgov and @CBP law enforcement rescued 8 unaccompanied migrant children from what looks like exploitation, violation of child labor laws and potentially human trafficking or smuggling," McLaughlin stated.

The DHS said, "The Biden administration lost ~300,000 unaccompanied children — many of these innocent children were trafficked and exploited."

Another DHS social media post added, "Why are there children working at a marijuana facility, Gavin?"

During one of Thursday's farm raids, a protester appeared to shoot at federal agents. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the alleged culprit.

RELATED: Trump 'was right' on immigration, admits John Kerry

  Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images

The alleged violent clash led to an online spat between Newsom and Libs of TikTok.

Libs of TikTok questioned whether Newsom would condemn the protesters' alleged violent actions toward ICE officers, who are facing a 700% increase in assaults, according to the agency.

Newsom replied to Libs of TikTok, stating, "Of course I condemn any assault on law enforcement, you s**t poster. Now do Jan 6."

"Not a single cop or officer was fired upon on January 6th you lying, greasy, slimy weirdo," Libs of TikTok wrote.

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'White, well-educated' Democrats are demanding lawmakers 'get shot' to prove they're anti-Trump as deadly violence rises



While President Donald Trump continues to deliver big wins for the American people, the Democrat base is becoming increasingly desperate.

Several Democrat lawmakers have expressed concerns as their constituents grow increasingly frustrated with what they view as inaction.

"We've got people who are desperately wanting us to do something. ... No matter what we say, they want [more]," Democrat Rep. Brad Schneider of Illinois said.

'The expectations aren't just unreal. They're dangerous.'

"Some of them have suggested ... what we really need to do is be willing to get shot," another Democrat said.

RELATED: Democrats unanimously vote against condemning 'mostly peaceful' anti-ICE riots

  Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

These lawmakers, most of whom spoke to Axios on the condition of anonymity, also said most of these voters were "white, well educated, and live in upscale suburban or urban neighborhoods."

"What I have seen is a demand that we get ourselves arrested intentionally or allow ourselves to be victims of violence, and ... a lot of times that's coming from economically very secure white people," one Democrat said.

"Not only would that be a gift to Donald Trump, not only would it make the job of Republicans in Congress easier if we were all mired in legal troubles ... [we are] a group that is disproportionately people of color, women, LGBTQ people — people who do not fare very well in prison."

RELATED: DNC plagued by infighting and incompetence, leaving Democrats desperate for cash

  Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Democrats are growing increasingly concerned that the grassroots base is expecting bloodshed as penance for Trump's historic victory in November 2024 and all his administration has accomplished since then.

"Our own base is telling us that what we're doing is not good enough ... [that] there needs to be blood to grab the attention of the press and the public," one Democrat said.

"It's like ... the Roman coliseum. People just want more and more of this spectacle," another Democratic lawmaker said.

The increase in calls for violence coincides with the increase in attacks against law enforcement officers.

As recently as Monday, two Border Patrol officers and one employee were shot by a suspect in tactical gear. The three victims are currently being treated for their injuries at a nearby hospital in Texas. The suspect was shot dead by law enforcement. Another Texas police officer was shot in the neck on Thursday in what appears to be a coordinated attack outside an ICE detention facility.

"The expectations aren't just unreal," one Democrat said. "They're dangerous."

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Illegal alien suspected of wielding weed whacker at ICE agents is called a 'father' and 'victim' by local outlet



As the Trump administration continues its mission to enforce our nation's laws and deport illegal aliens, violent resistance is becoming far more commonplace. However, many media outlets continue to report only part of the story to paint illegal aliens and their supporters in a better light than some deserve.

On Saturday, a Santa Ana suspect, identified as Narciso Barranco by his family, reportedly violently resisted arrest by U.S. Border Patrol agents.

'Law enforcement is now facing a 500% increase in assaults while carrying out enforcement operations. But this will not deter CBP.'

One of the sons of the suspect told KTLA-TV that Barranco was "picked up by alleged federal immigration officers while he was working as a landscaper at the IHOP on Edinger Avenue and Ritchey Street."

KTLA described the allegedly violent suspect as a "victim" and emphasized his role as a "father."

KTLA also implied that the U.S. Border Patrol agents were not acting legitimately, saying, "Seven or more masked men wearing U.S. Border Patrol vests are seen violently detaining a father in Santa Ana before forcing him into the back of an unmarked car on Saturday."

RELATED: DHS warns of attacks stateside after Iran bombings, years of open borders

— (@)  
 

The video that KTLA included in its post apparently cuts out the beginning of the incident, in which the suspect is seen wielding a weed whacker and running from the agents as they attempt to detain him. Watch the full video above.

"On June 21, Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien who tried to evade law enforcement. The illegal alien ran, then turned and swung a weed whacker directly at an agent’s face. He then fled through a busy intersection and raised the weed whacker again at the agent. The illegal alien refused to comply every step of the way — resisting commands, fighting handcuffs, and refusing to identify himself," a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told Blaze News.

The DHS spokesperson also said: "Reports that officers dislocated his shoulder are FALSE. He was offered medical care, which he declined." The office confirmed that the suspect is now in ICE custody.

On X, the DHS account replied to KTLA's post regarding this incident, calling the outlet's coverage a "completely slanted portrayal": "He ASSAULTED federal law enforcement with a WEED WHACKER. Perhaps the mainstream media would like our officers to stand there and be mowed down instead of defending themselves?"

DHS reaffirmed its commitment to continuing deportations, despite a rising rate of violent resistance. "Law enforcement is now facing a 500% increase in assaults while carrying out enforcement operations. But this will not deter CBP — we will continue enforcing the law and protecting American communities."

A GoFundMe page was started to raise funds for the suspect's legal counsel. It describes the suspect as a "good, hard working man" who has "raised his family here and has established himself here."

The GoFundMe page alleges that he was "pepper sprayed and punched in the face multiple times by these masked and unidentified 'officers.'" It has raised over $95,000 since its launch on Saturday.

KTLA was contacted but did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Trump’s immigration crackdown works: 1 million illegal aliens reportedly self-deport



President Donald Trump has led a multifaceted plan to address the former Biden administration's immigration crisis. In addition to increasing Immigration and Customs Enforcement's detainment efforts, Trump's Department of Homeland Security implemented a self-deportation program that has reportedly already experienced considerable success.

The Center for Immigration Studies has conservatively approximated that there are roughly 15.4 million illegal aliens in the country. Andrew Arthur, a resident fellow in law and policy with the CIS, claimed that nearly 1 million of those illegal aliens have opted to self-deport due to the Trump administration's strict immigration enforcement measures.

'Even with the cost of the stipend, it is projected that the use of CBP Home will decrease the costs of a deportation by around 70 percent.'

Arthur reached the 1 million figure based partly on employment numbers.

He cited a June op-ed from the Wall Street Journal, which assessed that the immigrant population had decreased by 773,000 over the first four months of Trump's presidency.

RELATED: 'Self-deport' flights begin as some illegal migrants take advantage of Trump's tempting offer: Report

  Photo by Carlos Moreno/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Further supporting Arthur's estimate, a Washington Post report read, "More than a million foreign-born workers have exited the workforce since March." While the Post framed the findings as "a sign of the weakening labor supply," it also claimed that average wages had increased.

"Average hourly wages accelerated, rising by 0.4 percent over the month, to $36.24 in May, as earnings continue to beat inflation in a boost to workers' spending power," the Post stated.

Arthur concluded, "In other words, with fewer illegal immigrants, businesses have had to raise wages to attract workers."

He noted that the administration's self-deportation program is a significantly cheaper route for taxpayers compared to ICE raids.

The DHS launched "a nationwide and international multimillion-dollar ad campaign" to promote the self-deportation program, warning illegal aliens that if they refuse to leave on their own, they may become ineligible to return to the United States.

RELATED: Trump’s self-deportation plan: Genius or waste of money? Mark Levin weighs in

  Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

The DHS repurposed the former CBP One application, now CBP Home, to facilitate and track the self-deportations.

The department has also offered financial and travel assistance to illegal aliens to incentivize them to leave the country voluntarily.

"Any illegal alien who uses the CBP Home App to self-deport will also receive a stipend of $1,000 dollars, paid after their return to their home country has been confirmed through the app," stated a DHS press release. "Even with the cost of the stipend, it is projected that the use of CBP Home will decrease the costs of a deportation by around 70 percent. Currently the average cost to arrest, detain, and remove an illegal alien is $17,121."

ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.

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Exclusive: Trump and Noem fuel record-breaking DHS recruitment surge, defying left's anti-cop chaos



Outside of the left's fiery anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement riots in Los Angeles, its relentless campaign to vilify law enforcement is floundering, as most recently evidenced by a robust turnout at the Department of Homeland Security's latest recruiting event.

Blaze News exclusively learned that the DHS 2025 career expo for law enforcement experienced "record-breaking success," with thousands of Americans attending the large-scale hiring event last week in Chantilly, Virginia.

'These numbers were possible even despite doxxing threats, increased assaults, and the recent wave of politicians' anti-cop rhetoric.'

A DHS press release obtained by Blaze News revealed that the expo aimed to "fill mission-critical law and immigration enforcement, border security, and national security roles across the department."

More than 3,000 Americans attended, leading the DHS to issue over 1,000 tentative job offers. These latest recruiting numbers are nearly double those from the DHS' 2023 law enforcement hiring expo, the last time a two-day event of this kind was held, where the department made only 564 tentative job offers.

RELATED: After Trump's decisive action, protests cooling in LA

  Image Source: The Department of Homeland Security

The event allowed applicants to meet with representatives from several of DHS' law enforcement wings, including ICE, the Transportation Security Administration, Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Protective Service, the Secret Service, and the Coast Guard.

  Image Source: The Department of Homeland Security

In addition to connecting with the department's various law enforcement representatives, interested and qualified candidates participated in interviews and began the security and background check processes.

"The record turnout for the event proves that President Donald J. Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem have inspired a new generation of Americans to serve their country in law enforcement," the DHS stated. "These numbers were possible even despite doxxing threats, increased assaults, and the recent wave of politicians' anti-cop rhetoric. Under their leadership, more Americans are willing to answer the call to protect and serve their fellow citizens."

RELATED: God, guns, and glory: Trump's DOD obliterates woke DEI madness in patriotic recruiting video

  Image Source: The Department of Homeland Security

"For example, between January–May 2025, more Americans applied to the Border Patrol than over any similar time frame in its history. U.S. Secret Service recruitment is up 200%," the department concluded.

The DHS credited Trump and Noem for restoring "excellence across federal agencies" and contributing to the "historic recruiting success."

  Image Source: The Department of Homeland Security

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White House works to send DOGE cuts package to Congress

Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

"Elon Musk and the entire DOGE team have done INCREDIBLE work exposing waste, fraud, and abuse across the federal government — from the insanity of USAID's spending to finding over 12 million people on Social Security who were over 120 years old," Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Wednesday.

"The House is eager and ready to act on DOGE’s findings so we can deliver even more cuts to big government that President Trump wants and the American people demand," Johnson added.

Some of these programs include a $3 million grant to fund Iraqi "Sesame Street" through USAID, as well as another $3 million for circumcisions, vasectomies, and condoms in Zambia and $5.1 million toward the "resilience of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer global movements" through the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

NPR and PBS also become a target of OMB's imminent rescission package because they have functionally served as left-wing outlets subsidized by taxpayers. NPR CEO Katherine Maher has previously referred to Trump as a "fascist" and a "deranged racist," while PBS has featured multiple programs glamorizing transgenderism, including one show about a trans-identifying man who "comes out to her old-school Ohio bowling league."

RELATED: Who is bankrolling the anti-MAHA movement?

  Photo by Allison Robbert-Pool/Getty Images

The Trump administration's latest push for Congress to get moving on DOGE cuts comes after Elon Musk himself expressed disappointment with the "big, beautiful bill." Musk cited concerns over spending, saying it "undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing."

Republican lawmakers like Rep. Thomas Massie and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky also seemed unimpressed by Congress so far. At the same time, BlazeTV host Matt Kibbe told Blaze News that there is still time to preserve the MAGA movement before the midterms.

"Losing Elon Musk and the DOGE wing of the Trump electoral coalition will be devastating to the GOP’s midterm prospects," Kibbe said. "But there’s still time."

"As Senator Rand Paul has been pointing out, all of the proposed DOGE cuts can be accomplished through expedited presidential rescission legislation, only requiring 51 votes in the Senate," Kibbe added. "Why not show us what savings can be accomplished before attempting to pass the 'big, beautiful bill,' which includes a $5 trillion increase in the debt limit and $350 billion in new spending?"

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District judge throws up major roadblocks for Border Patrol agents in California



A California federal judge on Tuesday threw up major roadblocks for Border Patrol agents seeking to deport illegal aliens.

U.S. District Judge Jennifer Thurston issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting Customs and Border Protection officers from arresting suspected illegal aliens without a warrant unless agents have reason to believe the suspect might flee before a warrant can be issued.

'Not on our watch.'

The judge also ruled that officers cannot stop suspected illegal immigrants without reasonable suspicion. Additionally, Border Patrol is barred from deporting an individual via "voluntary departure" unless the suspect is first informed of his or her rights and agrees to leave the country.

Thurston's orders apply only to federal agents in the Eastern District of California.

She wrote that the Border Patrol officers "engaged in conduct that violated well-established constitutional rights."

Thurston demanded that the agency provide reports detailing who has been detained or arrested without warrants and why. Under her direction, the Border Patrol is required to submit these reports every 60 days until the lawsuit concludes.

The judge's ruling follows the Border Patrol's January "Operation Return to Sender," which resulted in the arrest of dozens of suspected illegal aliens. The operation aimed to target individuals with serious criminal records.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit in response to the operation, arguing that federal immigration agents violated individuals' constitutional rights with its "stop-and-arrest practices."

According to the nonprofit, federal immigration agents rounded up day laborers and farm workers, regardless of their immigration status.

The ACLU issued a press release Tuesday celebrating the preliminary injunction victory.

Bree Bernwanger, senior staff attorney at the ACLU Foundation of Northern California, stated, "Today's order affirms the dignity and constitutional rights of all people."

"Border Patrol must end their illegal stop and arrest practices now," Bernwanger added.

Teresa Romero, president of United Farm Workers, said, "This order rightfully upholds the law. Border Patrol can't just wade into communities snatching up hardworking people without due process, just for being brown and working class."

"We will continue to fight together for the civil rights of every farm worker and every immigrant community," Romero continued. "This agency and this administration will not keep terrorizing our union members, our coworkers or our neighbors unchecked. Not on our watch."

Meanwhile, the Border Patrol claims that Thurston lacks the jurisdiction to oversee the case. Additionally, the agency stated that it has already issued new guidance and training "detailing exactly when people may be stopped or arrested without warrants, and what rights detainees have after their arrest."

The Department of Homeland Security and CBP did not respond to the New York Times' request for comment.

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Exclusive: Top immigration official reflects on Biden's failed border policies: 'An invasion unlike we've seen before'



Ron Vitiello, a longtime immigration enforcement official, reflected on the significant failures that took place under former President Joe Biden's administration during an exclusive interview with Blaze News senior politics editor Christopher Bedford on Thursday.

Vitiello has spent decades dedicated to protecting America's borders, most recently serving as acting director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during President Donald Trump's first term and now as a senior adviser to Customs and Border Protection during his second term. Witnessing the contrast in immigration policy across different administrations, Vitiello tells Bedford that having Trump back in office after Biden is like night and day.

"It's clear that during the Biden administration, uncontrolled border was their goal, right?" Vitiello told Bedford. "We had an invasion unlike we've seen before."

'Alejandro Mayorkas, as the secretary, watched what happened under the Trump administration, takes over as the secretary, and tears down all the things that were working for the previous four years. So they knew exactly what they were doing.'

"If you just used government numbers, and I know we're all a little bit skeptical of those numbers, but using Biden's own published numbers in public, 11 million encounters by CBP at the immediate border during the four years of the Biden administration," Vitiello added. "That doesn't count the number of people they abused the parole system to fly into the United States, which weren't seen by law enforcement agents at the line where people would be responsible for vetting them and making sure they weren't a threat to public safety."

Another weak point for the Biden administration was the influx of migrant "gotaways," which are illegal aliens who are never apprehended or deported after entering the country. Vitiello said that the increase in these migrant "gotaways" was the Biden-era exploitation of the CBP One app, which aided illegal immigration. Now under Trump's leadership, the DHS introduced the CBP Home app, which instead helps illegal aliens to self-deport.

The bottom line, Vitiello points out, is that the Biden administration and the agencies he led were actively and knowingly facilitating illegal immigration.

"The Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, was the previous deputy secretary under the Obama administration when Joe Biden was the vice president," Vitiello said. "And during the 2014 surge when I was still a government employee, we made recommendations to the Homeland Security office of the secretary and the deputy secretary on how to fix the surge that was going on in 2014."

"They put those recommendations that we gave — myself, Tom Homan, and others — they took those recommendations and put them in place to reduce the number of people that were coming across the border illegally," Vitiello added. "Those steps worked, and we had better outcomes. Other things happened since, but they knew how to fix it, and Alejandro Mayorkas, as the secretary, watched what happened under the Trump administration, takes over as the secretary, and tears down all the things that were working for the previous four years. So they knew exactly what they were doing."

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Trump Says He’ll Work With Farmers To Not Immediately Deport Key Laborers

President Donald Trump told reporters during a Thursday cabinet meeting that he would work with American farmers to not deport their key migrant workers. “We’re also gonna work with farmers that if they have strong recommendations for their farms for certain people, we’re going to let them stay in for a while and work with […]

CBP closes several processing sites as illegal border crossings plummet under Trump



Customs and Border Protection recently announced the closure of several temporary migrant processing sites along the southern border, crediting a steep decline in illegal crossings under President Donald Trump's administration.

CBP stated that it started "reducing the number of soft-sided facilities" in early March, saving taxpayers $5 million to $30 million monthly for each.

'Manpower and other resources dedicated to temporary processing facilities will be redirected.'

In a March 13 press release, the agency revealed plans to close temporary facilities in Donna, North Eagle Pass, and Laredo, Texas, as well as Yuma and Tucson, Arizona. It noted that the soft-sided sites in San Diego, California, and El Paso, Texas, would remain operational.

It noted that, in addition to saving taxpayer funds, the closures will also allow CBP agents staffed at the locations to return to their primary enforcement roles along the southern border.

Pete Flores, acting CBP commissioner, stated, "Due to the unprecedented drop in apprehensions of illegal aliens as a result of President Trump's leadership, CBP is reducing the number of temporary, soft-sided processing facilities where illegal aliens have been held in specific locations along the southwest border."

"CBP no longer has a need for them as illegal aliens are being quickly removed," Flores continued. "The U.S. Border Patrol has full capability to manage the detention of apprehended aliens in its permanent facilities. Manpower and other resources dedicated to temporary processing facilities will be redirected toward other priorities and will speed CBP's progress in gaining operational control over the southwest border."

On Thursday, CBP told Fox News it planned to close another temporary facility in Otay Mesa, near San Diego. The 500-capacity site opened in January 2023 to address the massive influx of illegal immigration.

"The facility's primary purpose is to safely and expeditiously process individuals in U.S. Border Patrol custody," a 2023 CBP press release read.

Hilton Beckham, the CBP's assistant commissioner of public affairs, credited Trump for the substantial drop in illegal border crossings prompting site closures.

"CBP recently closed soft-sided processing facilities in Texas and Arizona, and CBP has now closed yet another soft-sided processing facility in San Diego," Beckham told Fox News. "The U.S. Border Patrol has full capability to manage the detention of apprehended aliens in USBP's permanent facilities."

"Manpower and other resources dedicated to temporary processing facilities will be redirected toward other priorities and will speed CBP's progress in gaining operational control over the southwest border," he added.

In February, border encounters fell to under 30,000 — the lowest on record and an 89% drop from the previous year's 256,000.

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