Homeland Security provided an update in the aftermath of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)’s recent operation on a California marijuana farm, stating that at least 361 illegal immigrants have been arrested.
“In those California raids, particularly disturbing is the number of politicians that came out and continue to villainize and attack and demonize our ICE law enforcement officers,” DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News. “At that particular operation, at those marijuana facilities, our ICE enforcement officers found 14 children, 10 who were unaccompanied. They were likely being exploited, potential slave or forced labor, potential child and human trafficking. So this is something that is incredibly disturbing and goes far beyond politics.”
“And not only were there 10 unaccompanied children at that marijuana facility, but we also apprehended 361 illegal aliens with heinous rap sheets that included kidnapping, child molestation, rape, serial burglary, hit and runs,” she said. “These are not people who should not be in our communities illegally, much less around innocent children.”
More than 500 rioters attempted to disrupt the operation, DHS said, including one who fired at officers. Four U.S. citizens are also being criminally processed for assaulting or resisting authorities.
Following the ICE operation, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) said children were “running from tear gas” and “crying on the phone because their mother was just taken from the fields.”
The statement was widely condemned by federal authorities, with DHS asking, “Why are there children working at a marijuana facility, Gavin?”
Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott similarly said of the operation: “This is Newsom’s California.”
