Tracy Lehr
OXNARD, Calif. – Supporters of undocumented workers rallied Tuesday following an early morning raid at Laguna Farms in Camarillo—one of several immigration enforcement actions targeting produce farms across Ventura County.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted the raids as part of an escalating wave of federal immigration enforcement across Southern California. Farmworkers told KABC that agents arrived at an Oxnard farm around 6 a.m. Tuesday. Video posted online showed ICE agents chasing workers as they fled the fields.
The FBI’s Los Angeles office confirmed in a post on X that immigration enforcement operations were carried out in Ventura County in support of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).
Laguna Farms, the site of one of the raids, is located across from California State University Channel Islands near Laguna Road.
Additional recent raids have been reported at the Sinclair gas station on South Ventura Road in Oxnard and at Healthy Baby Nutrition near Oxnard City Hall.
That raid occurred across from a large mural of the late Supervisor Carmen Ramirez, a local political figure who dedicated her career to advocating for workers.
Locals say the heightened enforcement is stoking fear and hurting businesses, including farm stands and gas stations.
“That’s all I’ve been hearing about this week,” said Wendy Mindy. “And today, particularly, it’s been very slow. Actually, I told my mom to go home right now because they are very worried. A lot of our customers—we haven’t been seeing them regularly. We like to get food from a food truck, and they also haven’t been here all week.”
Many residents say they first learned about the raids through social media.
Katherine Dyson brought water and snacks to farmworkers to show her support.
“I saw 805 Immigration Coalition put out that they are looking for people to come out to the fields and just show up and be present—and let workers know, and anybody else, that you are here ready to help and be a resource around here,” Dyson said.
She added that she’s concerned about the broader impacts on the community.
“I’m trying to figure out as best I can how to show up for my community and put myself out there to be a resource right now,” she said.
By late afternoon, young people lined Saviers Road near Baskin-Robbins. Some had painted their cheeks red and green.
“It should be stopped because these people work hard every day,” said Samantha Ramirez.
Evelyn Ramirez, who said she just graduated from Ventura College, also joined the protest.
“I know America could be so much greater than what it is showing around the world,” she said.
Their mother joined them, and passing drivers honked in support of the peaceful protest.
Later, a much larger demonstration took place outside Oxnard City Hall, lasting late into the night. Speakers included an immigration attorney and representatives from grassroots organizations. Protesters held signs and cheered as vehicles passed by honking.
Miguel Ramirez (not related to the sisters at the earlier protest) watched from the top of a nearby parking structure.
“My pops himself works in the fields. I called to ask him [if he was affected]; he said, ‘Luckily, no.’ That doesn’t mean it’s not affecting other families.”
Tino Preciado, who comes from a family of immigrants and has relatives in law enforcement, expressed concern over the raids.
“If you can’t look and see what is going on and call it evil, I don’t know what you are looking at,” Preciado said.
By 10 p.m., music filled the streets as people danced and chanted.
Your News Channel reached out to several farmers, but they declined to comment on the impacts of the Trump administration’s deportation efforts.
Oxnard Police Chief Jason Benites released a statement clarifying that the department does not participate in or assist with federal immigration enforcement. The mayor of Oxnard also posted on Instagram to reassure residents that the city was not involved in the raids.
Many protesters say they plan to join a nationwide day of action Saturday, organized by the “No Kings” movement.
The campaign, led by a wide coalition of progressive groups—including the American Federation of Teachers, Public Citizen and Indivisible—is planning more than 1,500 demonstrations across the country. While national partners are helping coordinate, anyone can sign up to host a protest with the movement.
Locally, rallies are planned at Chase Palm Park in Santa Barbara, the Ventura County Government Center Hall of Justice, the Veterans Memorial Hall in Solvang, and in Lompoc.
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