Trump Admin Defends Immigration Raids in California After Worker's Death: 'ICE Did Not Have Hands on This Person'

The Trump administration has doubled down on defending last week's large-scale immigration raid in Southern California that resulted in the death of a Mexican farmworker as criticism mounts from immigrant rights advocates and lawmakers.

Jaime Garcia, 57, died on Saturday, one day after falling approximately 30 feet from the roof of a greenhouse during the raid at Glass House Farms near Camarillo while reportedly trying to evade ICE agents. Garcia suffered a broken neck and skull and died in a local hospital.

However, White House border czar Tom Homan defended the operation. Speaking on CNN's State of the Union, he said that "he (Garcia) wasn't in ICE custody" and that "ICE did not have hands on this person." Homan also called the death "unfortunate" but maintained that agents were simplyg "doing their job."

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) echoed that stance in a statement by Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin:

"This man was not in and has not been in CBP or ICE custody. 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 raid on July 10 led to the detention of 361 undocumented workers and the discovery of 14 migrant minors, according to DHS. The agency also stated that 10 of the children may have been victims of forced labor or human trafficking.

Representative Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.) was one of the most vocal critics of the federal agents' conduct during the raid, stating on X: "I witnessed agents, in full military gear, fire smoke canisters and other projectiles into a crowd of peaceful civilians." He also accused ICE of retaliating against him for sharing an employee's business card with protesters.

The Trump administration has vowed to appeal a federal ruling that blocks immigration enforcement based on racial profiling and denial of legal counsel. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is quoted by Reuters as saying of the appeal: "we will appeal, and we will win."