ICE raid on Glass House Farms drove farmworker Jaime Alanís García to a fatal 30-foot fall

On July 10, 2025, federal immigration agents and National Guard soldiers raided Glass House Farms, a licensed cannabis facility in Camarillo, California, and an associated site in Carpinteria, arresting more than 300 people in a single day. Farmworker Jaime Alanís García, who had worked at the farm for ten years, climbed onto the roof of a greenhouse during the operation and fell roughly 30 feet, breaking his neck. He called family to say he was hiding, and family, hospital, and government sources say he was fleeing agents at the time.

Alanís García was airlifted to Ventura County Medical Center, placed on a breathing machine, and died there on July 12, 2025, after his wife traveled from Mexico to be at his side. He was never taken into CBP or ICE custody. DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin disputed that agents pursued him: "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."

Alanís García's family called him "not just a farm worker [but] a human being who deserved dignity," adding that "his death is not an isolated tragedy." United Farm Workers president Teresa Romero, whose union does not represent workers at the raided farm, said the organization was "anguished" by his death. He is the first known person to have died during one of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement operations.

Updates

2025-08-05 — Family filed $47 million federal tort claim against ICE [4, 5]

On August 5, 2025, Alanís García's wife and daughter filed a $47 million federal tort claim against ICE, alleging agents' excessive force during the raid contributed to his fatal fall; the claim sought damages for pre-death pain and suffering, medical costs, lost earnings, and wrongful-death losses, and gave the government six months to respond before a lawsuit could follow.

2025-12-30 — Family sued Glass House Farms, federal government over death [6]

On December 30, 2025, Alanís García's wife and daughter filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Ventura County Superior Court against Glass House Farms and the federal government, amended April 17, 2026; the complaint alleges federal agents deliberately ignored his medical condition and prevented emergency responders from reaching him after his fall, and that when agents eventually provided attention it was inadequate. The U.S. Attorney's Office removed the claims against the federal government to federal district court on May 29, 2026; as of this writing, no defendant had filed a response.