A California marijuana farm, operating under state license, has become the focal point of a heated investigation into potential child labor law violations.
This scrutiny follows a tumultuous week marked by confrontations between demonstrators and immigration officials at the site.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott took to X to announce the investigation, sharing an image of ten juveniles with obscured faces. "These are the juveniles found in the marijuana facility almost all unaccompanied, one as young as 14," Scott stated.
He further questioned, "California are you ready to partner with us to stop child exploitation?" According to Breitbart, the probe was initiated after a raid on Glass House Farms, a cannabis operation located in Ventura County, roughly an hour's drive from Los Angeles. The federal authorities executed a warrant targeting illegal employees, as reported by Fox News.
The raid sparked intense scenes as protesters, alerted to the federal action, descended upon the farm. Military helicopters hovered low over the fields, adding to the drama. Protesters clashed with agents, prompting the use of tear gas and smoke bombs to disperse the crowd.
The unfolding child labor investigation starkly contrasts with footage shared on X by Governor Gavin Newsom, who depicted "kids running from tear gas, crying on the phone because their mother was just taken from the fields." Newsom, a potential contender for the 2028 presidential race, remarked, "Trump calls me Newscum but hes the real scum."
In response, Scott countered with the child labor announcement, referencing the governors video and asserting, "This is Newsoms California." The CBP also highlighted a $50,000 reward offered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for information leading to the conviction of an unidentified suspect who allegedly fired a pistol at federal law enforcement officers, as shown in an accompanying video clip.
The situation raises critical questions about the enforcement of labor laws and the responsibilities of state and federal authorities in safeguarding vulnerable populations. As the investigation unfolds, it underscores the ongoing debate over immigration policy and labor practices in California, a state often at the forefront of progressive initiatives.
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