Tom Homan, the designated “border czar” by President Donald Trump, addressed the tragic passing of a Mexican farmworker in California following an immigration raid. While he described the fatality as “unfortunate,” Homan defended the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the region during an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union.” Expressing sadness at the loss of life, Homan emphasized that nobody wishes for such outcomes.
The incident involved the death of Jaime Alanis, a 57-year-old man who passed away on July 12 after sustaining injuries during an immigration operation targeting two cannabis farms located north of Los Angeles. Reports indicate that Alanis attempted to evade the authorities by climbing onto the roof of a greenhouse, resulting in a fall of about 30 feet that led to a fatal neck injury. Despite the tragic outcome, Homan maintained that immigration officials were simply carrying out their duties at the time of Alanis’ accident, clarifying that he was not in ICE custody and ICE personnel were not directly involved in the incident.
Several other workers were also seriously injured, according to Teresa Romero, the President of the United Farm Workers. The enforcement actions at the cannabis farms caused a chaotic situation, as detailed by the USA TODAY Network in California. Agents arrived at Glass House Farms near Camarillo and in Carpinteria, a significant marijuana cultivation site, leading to confrontations with protesters and the detention of farm laborers.
The Department of Homeland Security reported on July 11 that, along with the arrest of undocumented individuals, “law enforcement rescued at least 10 migrant children from situations involving exploitation, forced child labor, and potential human trafficking or smuggling.” Trump’s stringent immigration policies, a focal point of his reelection campaign, have resulted in an escalation of enforcement raids.
Contributing to this report: Isaiah Murtaugh and Cheri Carlson.
