On the morning of Thursday, a distressing event unfolded for 15-year-old Juan Martinez when he received an urgent call from his mother. She informed him that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were stationed just outside the Glass House Farms complex in Carpinteria, where she was employed, and that they would soon enter the premises. “She was rushed,” Martinez recounted. “She was panicking.” Faced with the overwhelming situation, Juan felt helpless, stating, “It was really, really stressful. I couldn’t drive over there. I couldn’t do anything.”
As the day progressed, Juan received another message from his mother at 11:36 a.m., shortly before her shift ended. In a quiet text, she revealed that she was in custody and being transported to Los Angeles. She urged him to take care of his younger brothers, aged 8 and 9. “That made me cry,” Martinez admitted. His mother was part of a wave of more than two dozen employees from Glass House Farms arrested during the ICE operation targeting cannabis companies in Carpinteria and Camarillo. Having lived and worked in Southern California for 16 years, she has no criminal record, according to Juan.
Now, Juan is left to care for his siblings amidst the chaos. “I’m actually really lost right now,” he expressed. “I don’t know what to tell them because I don’t want them to freak out. Because they’re little, they’re little kids.” Fortunately, their home has enough food for a few days, and Juan is in communication with relatives in Northern California to figure out their next steps. “I’m trying to figure all that out,” he said, showing remarkable resilience in a troubling time.
Juan has also reached out to a local attorney, Andrea Anaya from Kingston, Martinez, & Hogan, who is striving to prevent his mother’s deportation. Anaya noted that her law firm typically assists victims of human trafficking and domestic violence, but she has never encountered a case where a mother was taken while working. “This is not normal,” she stated, highlighting the shift in ICE's operational practices.
In previous enforcement actions, ICE agents often exercised discretion and would refrain from detaining parents or guardians of young children, typically opting for a court summons instead. However, Anaya observed a disturbing trend where anyone and everyone is being apprehended in these recent raids. She has filed a motion for a bond hearing, hoping to secure the release of Juan’s mother while they await a hearing with an immigration judge—a process that could take weeks or even months.
In a parallel situation, Alexa, a 16-year-old whose mother also worked at Glass House Farms, is now responsible for her two younger sisters, aged six and ten months. “They became my responsibility,” Alexa said, discussing her new role as caretaker. Her mother, who is three months pregnant, experienced complications during her arrest when a chemical agent was spilled on her leg. Concerned for her health and that of her unborn child, she informed ICE agents that she was unwell, prompting them to call for paramedics who transported her to a local hospital.
Fortunately, Alexa’s mother has since been released, but not without having her photo taken and identification copied by federal officials. “We’re all worried they’re going to come back for her,” Alexa expressed, emphasizing the anxiety that now permeates their lives. “It’s crazy that they’re sending the military to arrest people who just want to work,” she added, capturing the sentiment of many affected families.
Alexa’s mother immigrated from Chihuahua, Mexico, 17 years ago, fleeing the rampant cartel violence at the time. She has built a life in the U.S. as a housekeeper and in agriculture, maintaining a clean record and fulfilling her tax obligations. “She wanted a better life,” Alexa explained. “Everyone comes here looking for a better life, looking for the American dream.”
The plight of both Juan and Alexa highlights the deep impact of recent ICE raids on families seeking opportunity and security in America. As they navigate this tumultuous period, the community watches closely, hoping for a resolution that will allow these families to reunite and heal.
