A migrant was left in critical condition Thursday following a 30-foot fall from a roof during a raid led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection at a marijuana farm in southern California, according to the hospital.
Jaime Alanis Garcia remains in critical condition at Ventura County Medical Center, although his family told KTLA he may be taken off life support soon. The Mexican man suffered a broken neck and skull, according to reports. The hospital did not comment on his injuries.
Media reports previously indicated Garcia died on Friday following a statement from the United Farm Workers union.
“We tragically can confirm that a farm worker has died of injuries they sustained as a result of yesterday’s immigration enforcement action,” the union announced on social media. The post has since been deleted.
ICE and CBP officers on Thursday conducted raids at a cannabis farm in Camarillo, California, and another in Carpinteria. The operation drew backlash from California Democrats, including Rep. Jimmy Gomez, who claimed the migrant workers were picking strawberries. The Trump administration disputed that characterization.
Garcia fell 30 feet from a building when he was possibly trying to run away from federal agents, according to his family. He was present at the cannabis farm in Camarillo, Ventura County.
The Department of Homeland Security disputed reports suggesting he was being chased by law enforcement before his accident.
“This man was not in and has not been in CBP or ICE custody,” the department posted on X. “Although he was not being pursued by law enforcement, this individual climbed up to the roof of a green house and fell 30 feet. CBP immediately called a medivac to the scene to get him care as quickly as possible.”
The Washington Examiner contacted DHS for clarification on Garcia’s immigration status.
Thursday’s raids were part of the largest immigration operations since the Trump administration launched its mass deportation campaign. Over 200 illegal immigrants were arrested across both marijuana farms.
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ICE conducted the raids over concerns of potential exploitation, forced labor, and human trafficking involving migrant children workers. At least 10 migrant children were rescued during the operation, the DHS said in a Friday statement.
During the operation, ICE and CBP officers came under gunfire from a masked gunman. The FBI is investigating the unidentified shooter, who remains at large.
