Donald Trump Declares ‘Total Authorization’ for ICE Agents

President Donald Trump has granted federal immigration agents “total authorization” to defend themselves following clashes with protesters during a recent enforcement operation at a cannabis farm in California.

He had watched in disbelief “as THUGS were violently throwing rocks and bricks at ICE Officers while they were moving down a roadway in their car,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday.

“Therefore, I am directing Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, and Border Czar, Tom Homan, to instruct all ICE, Homeland Security, or any other Law Enforcement Officer who is on the receiving end of thrown rocks, bricks, or any other form of assault, to stop their car, and arrest these SLIMEBALLS, using whatever means is necessary to do so. I am giving Total Authorization for ICE to protect itself, just like they protect the Public.”

He added: “I never want to see a car carrying a Law Enforcement Officer attacked again! AUTHORIZATION IMMEDIATELY GRANTED FOR ARREST AND INCARCERATION.”

Why It Matters

Tensions in California have been running high over Trump’s immigration agenda, with protests and unrest breaking out in Los Angeles last month after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted deportation raids across the city.

Rocks were thrown at police and vehicles were torched as the president deployed more than 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles against the wishes of California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, sparking an ongoing political tiff and legal challenge over jurisdiction.

Since then, federal immigration authorities have stepped up arrests throughout Southern California, following Trump’s directive for ICE officers to use “all in their power” to carry out what he has called the largest mass deportation effort in U.S. history.

What To Know

In the latest round of immigration raids, ICE agents, backed by National Guard troops in military-style vehicles, this week targeted two sites run by Glass House Farms—one in Camarillo in Ventura County and another in Carpinteria, a town in Santa Barbara County about 90 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

In the Camarillo raid on Thursday, there were reports of objects being thrown at agents, and Newsom posted a video on social media showing children apparently running from tear gas deployed by federal officers.

Meanwhile, a video from Los Angeles TV station KABC-TV showed a man running from federal agents and appearing to fire a handgun in their direction as they lobbed smoke canisters at protesters. Footage from the clashes also showed federal agents pinning someone to the ground.

One farmworker died from injuries he sustained during the raids, union officials said.

Jaime Alanis, who had worked picking tomatoes at the Camarillo farm for 10 years, suffered a 30-foot fall from a building, said Elizabeth Strater, national vice president of the United Farm Workers (UFW).

The Department of Homeland Security said authorities had executed criminal search warrants in Carpinteria and Camarillo on Thursday, arresting immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally and noting that there were at least 10 immigrant children on site.

Four U.S. citizens were arrested for “assaulting or resisting officers,” the department said, adding that authorities were offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of one person suspected of firing a gun at federal agents. At least one worker was hospitalized with severe injuries.

The UFW said some workers, including U.S. citizens, were missing after the raids.

Glass House, a licensed California cannabis grower, said immigration agents had valid warrants. It confirmed that workers were detained and said it was helping them with legal representation.

“Glass House has never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors,” said a statement from the company.

Cannabis cultivation and sales are legal in California with the proper licensing. State records show that Glass House holds multiple active licenses to grow cannabis.

The Trump administration has sent mixed signals in recent weeks about whether farmworkers will be swept up in its push to deport immigrants living in the country illegally.

On June 14, Trump ordered ICE to pause enforcement actions on farms, but the agency reversed course just days later. Then, on July 3, the president said he would allow migrant workers to stay if farmers could “vouch” for them—only for Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to say shortly afterwards that there would be “no amnesty” for farmworkers facing deportation.

Roughly half of U.S. farmworkers are undocumented, according to government estimates, and industry groups have repeatedly warned that large-scale deportations could devastate the nation’s food supply chain.

After raids on California farms in June, some crops have been left unharvested, with farm operators fearful of more crackdowns to come.

What People Are Saying

Glass House Farms wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on July 10: “Glass House Farms were visited today by ICE Officials. The company fully complied with agent search warrants and will provide further updates if necessary.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott said on X on Thursday: “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. This is Newsom’s California.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom shared Scott’s post and added on X: “California prosecutes child exploiters and traffickers. Trump tear-gasses children, rips them from their parents, and deports farmworkers. Priorities.”

Representative Salud Carbajal, a California Democrat, said in a July 11 X post: “Yesterday in Carpinteria, I witnessed ICE agents using unnecessarily aggressive and militarized tactics against local farm workers and peaceful protesters. It was appalling. This is not how we keep our communities safe. As a Member of Congress, I have the legal right to oversee federal operations. Yet, I was denied entry.”