California Government Criticized Over ICE Operation
Bill Essay, a federal attorney for the Central District of California, criticized state officials for their reaction to a recent Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation at a marijuana farm. The search took place in Camarillo, California, and led to violent protests, resulting in law enforcement deploying tear gas and smoke bombs for crowd control.
Following the incident, Governor Gavin Newsom characterized the operation as an assault on innocent children, prompting Essay to respond sharply. He accused the governor of being ill-informed and of inciting unnecessary panic regarding ICE agents, stating, “He immediately makes these tweets without any factual basis, creating hysteria and drama.” Essay expressed concern that politicians are more focused on illegal immigration than on the welfare of American citizens, claiming, “He doesn’t care about people being exploited.”
Newsom has reportedly criticized former President Donald Trump, labeling him as “scum.” During the ICE raid, children were seen fleeing from tear gas while their parents were detained, leading to emotional distress for the families involved.
In the aftermath, Essay announced a reward of $50,000 for anyone with information about an unidentified individual who allegedly fired a weapon during the operation. Federal agents also conducted a raid on another marijuana farm in Ventura County, rescuing ten children in the process. This farm is under investigation for potential violations of the Child Labor Act.
Other Democratic leaders, such as Arizona Senator Reuben Gallego and California Senator Jimmy Gomez, expressed strong objections to the ICE actions, arguing that these interventions unfairly targeted families. The Department of Homeland Security retorted, dismissing the criticism and emphasizing the need to address exploitation and potential human trafficking.
In a separate development, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, signed an order restricting local officials from cooperating with ICE.
