Latest news with #federalauthorities
The Independent
14-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
More than 360 arrested after ICE raid at California marijuana farms
More than 360 people were arrested during the ICE raids at two southern California marijuana farms last week, federal authorities have said. The raids were characterized as one of the largest operations since President Donald Trump took office in January. One farmworker died after falling from a greenhouse roof during the chaotic raids on Thursday after the Department of Homeland Security executed criminal search warrants at Glass House Farms facilities in Camarillo and Carpinteria, northwest of Los Angeles. What happened? During the raid on the Camarillo site, crowds gathered seeking information about their relatives and to protest immigration enforcement. Authorities clad in military-style helmets and uniforms faced off with the demonstrators, and people ultimately retreated amid acrid green and white billowing smoke. Glass House Brands is a major cannabis company in California that started a decade ago with a greenhouse in the Santa Barbara County community of Carpinteria. The company said it later expanded, buying another facility in the Ventura County community of Camarillo that included six tomato and cucumber-growing greenhouses. Glass House converted two of them to grow cannabis, according to the company's website. Relatives of workers at the Camarillo site said tomatoes are still also grown at the location. Arrest numbers keep rising The federal government initially reported that some 200 people suspected of being in the country illegally were arrested. Then on Saturday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said 319 people were arrested and said on X it was 'quickly becoming one of the largest operations since President Trump took office.' A day later, the arrest numbers according to the Department of Homeland Security, were up to 361 from the two locations. The government said four of the 361 arrested had prior criminal records, including convictions for rape and kidnapping. One death reported from the raids A farmworker who fell from a greenhouse roof during the raid at the farm in Camarillo died Saturday of his injuries. Jaime Alanis, 57, is the first known fatality during one of the Trump administration's ongoing immigration enforcement operations. Yesenia Duran, Alanis' niece, confirmed his death to The Associated Press. She posted on the fundraising site GoFundMe that her uncle was his family's only provider and he had been sending his earnings back to a wife and daughter in Mexico. Alanis worked at the farm for 10 years, his family said. He called his wife in Mexico and told her he was hiding from federal agents during the raid Thursday. A doctor told his relatives the ambulance crew who took him to a hospital said he fell about 30 feet (9 meters), Duran said. Why was the business raided? The government says it is investigating potential child labor, human trafficking and other abuse. Initially, DHS said 10 immigrant children were on the property. They later increased that number to 14. Authorities declined to share the warrant for the operation. The administration has released no additional information about the children, including their ages and what they were doing on the property when authorities arrived. DHS has not provided details to back up its claim of possible trafficking or other abuse, and the company has not been charged with anything. It was unclear if any of the minors were the children of farm workers at the sites or if they came to the U.S. without an adult. Federal and state laws allow children as young as 12 to work in agriculture under certain conditions, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. In California, children as young as 12 can work on farms outside of school hours, while those as young as 16 can work during school hours if they are not required to attend school, the agency said on its website. No one under the age of 21 is allowed to work in the cannabis industry. The California Department of Cannabis Control conducted a site visit in May 2025 and observed no minors on the premises, a spokesman said. After receiving a subsequent complaint, the state opened an investigation to ensure full compliance with state law. U.S. citizens were among those arrested Four U.S. citizens were arrested during the raids for allegedly 'assaulting or resisting officers,' according to DHS, and authorities were offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a person suspected of firing a gun at federal agents. Among those arrested was California State University Channel Islands professor Jonathan Caravello, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli posted on X. Essayli said Caravello was arrested for throwing a tear gas canister at law enforcement and was to appear in court Tuesday. The California Faculty Association said Caravello was taken away by agents who did not identify themselves nor inform him of why he was being arrested. The association said he was then held without being able to contact his family. Caravello was attempting to dislodge a tear gas canister that was stuck underneath someone's wheelchair, witnesses told KABC-TV, the ABC affiliate in Los Angeles. Separately, the federal Bureau of Prisons said George Retes, 25, was in their custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles from Thursday to Sunday. Retes' family told KABC-TV on Sunday that he is a U.S. citizen, works as a security guard at the farm in Camarillo and is a disabled U.S. Army veteran. They said Retes was trying to drive away during the clashes between protesters and agents when an officer stopped him, broke his car window and shot pepper spray before dragging him out of his car and arresting him. Retes' sister, Destinee Magaña, told the television station on Sunday that the family had been trying to get in touch with her brother. Federal agents 'thought he was probably part of the protest, but he wasn't, he was trying to reverse his car,' Magaña said.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Grand Canyon North Rim closed amid raging wildfires
Firefighters in Arizona worked Monday to contain a pair of fast-moving wildfires that destroyed a historic lodge in Grand Canyon National Park, closed a section of the park for the rest of the season and prompted calls for an investigation into federal authorities' response to the blazes. The two wildfires burning at or near the park's North Rim include the White Sage Fire and the Dragon Bravo Fire. The blazes have consumed about 45,000 acres of land as of July 13. Park officials said the Dragon Bravo Fire, which burned 5,000 acres within the park, destroyed the Grand Canyon Lodge – the only hotel located inside the national park at the North Rim. Between 50 to 80 structures have been lost in the fire, officials said, including administrative buildings, visitor facilities and other historic cabins in the park. Lightning strikes ignited the fires this month and a combination of strong winds, low humidity and scorching daily temperatures led to their rapid expansion. Here's what we know about the wildfires. The Dragon Bravo Fire was ignited by a lightning strike on July 4. Initially, fire officials sought to manage the blaze by setting up containment lines and halting its growth. But over the weekend, powerful wind gusts up to 40 mph led the fire to expand 500 acres overnight, swallowing dozens of structures including historic cabins in the area. It also impacted a water treatment facility, leading officials to evacuate some firefighting personnel and halt aerial operations because of a possible chlorine leak. No injuries or deaths were reported as staff and hikers were evacuated from the North Rim area before the blaze exploded in size. Park officials said the North Rim will remain closed for the rest of the season, which runs from May 15 to October 15. Visitors to the more popular South Rim, which is open all year, were advised to stay updated on possible air quality alerts. "The fire is being managed with an aggressive full suppression strategy," the National Park Service said, adding, "Fire behavior is still very active." The Grand Canyon Lodge sat perched on the canyon's edge and offered guests panoramic views of the natural wonder. The lodge opened in 1937 after the original building burned to the ground in a wildfire in September 1932. The new property was made up of the main lodge building, 23 deluxe cabins and over 90 regular cabins, according to the park service. The lodge building was made of a limestone façade that was sourced nearby, and massive ponderosa pine trees were turned into support beams to hold up a sloped roof capable of supporting heavy loads of snow. "We are devastated by the loss of Grand Canyon Lodge and historic buildings on the North Rim," read a statement from the National Park Service. Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., said on social media that the lodge's destruction was "Heartbreaking news for Arizona & everyone who loves this special place." Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs questioned the federal government's handling of the Dragon Bravo Fire, which destroyed numerous structures on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge. Hobbs said in a post on X that after a lightning strike started the fire, the federal government "chose to manage that fire as a controlled burn during the driest, hottest part of the Arizona summer." "I am calling on the federal government for a comprehensive and independent investigation into the management of the Fire and a report detailing the decisions that led to this devastating outcome," she wrote. "As someone who was born and raised in Arizona, I know what the Grand Canyon National Park means to so many people, not just in Arizona, but all over the world, and how devastating it is to see this damage done to one of Arizona's most cherished landmarks." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Grand Canyon wildfire: Historic lodge, cabins destroyed; evacuations
Wall Street Journal
10-07-2025
- Climate
- Wall Street Journal
Why America Still Can't Get Disaster Alerts Right
America's emergency-warning infrastructure still isn't getting enough people out of harm's way. Federal, state and local authorities share responsibility for alerting citizens that they are in danger. But despite continued technological advances, the country's patchwork of digital and physical emergency-alert tools is often a step behind Mother Nature, with deadly consequences.
Washington Post
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Mexico braced for Trump's mass deportations. They haven't happened.
TIJUANA, Mexico — When President Donald Trump pledged to launch the 'largest deportation operation in American history,' this border city swung into action. The local government declared a state of emergency. Federal authorities built a shelter for up to 2,600 deportees, complete with beds, showers and white-coated chefs. It was, one local official said, the 'zombie apocalypse scenario.'
Free Malaysia Today
29-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Strong response for Labuan-KK express ferry service, says Zaliha
The Express Kinabalu ferry service between Labuan and Kota Kinabalu resumed last month after a three-year hiatus. (Bernama pic) LABUAN : The Labuan-Kota Kinabalu express ferry service has seen a surge in passengers since resuming operations on May 27, following a three-year suspension. To date, more than 3,700 commuters have used the direct sea route, with each trip operating at full capacity of more than 100 passengers. The revival of the service, linking the duty-free island to Sabah's capital, has been hailed by federal authorities as a much-needed boost to regional connectivity. Federal territories minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa described the ferry's return as a key development for Labuan's socio-economic growth. 'This express ferry is not just a transportation service, it is a vital connector for regional economic, social and development networks,' she said. Speaking to reporters at the Labuan International Ferry Terminal after welcoming passengers from Kota Kinabalu, Zaliha said the service facilitates community mobility, daily activities, and the transport of goods within local supply chains. She expressed satisfaction with the strong public reception, noting that the ferry is popular among a wide range of travellers commuting between the two cities. 'This route offers a more convenient and time-saving alternative to the roll-on/roll-off ferry via Menumbok, especially for passengers without vehicles,' she said. While the ro-ro ferry is generally preferred for travel to nearby districts such as Menumbok, Kuala Penyu or Beaufort, the express ferry provides a direct, faster option to Kota Kinabalu. Zaliha also expressed hope that the operator would continue to enhance the service, including shortening the travel time, to meet the growing demand.
