The Farm Bureau of Ventura County said in a news release that the organization strongly condemns the actions taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Oxnard on June 10 in Oxnard, Calif. The Farm Bureau of Ventura County, which represents hundreds of farmers, ranchers and agricultural businesses across the region, said ICE agents attempted to enter a local packing facility without a judicial warrant and conducted operations in ag fields and initiated vehicle stops frequented by agriculture workers commuting to job sites.
“The conduct of ICE this morning, marked by racial profiling, intimidation and attempts to enter private property without judicial authorization, constitutes an unacceptable escalation,” the organization said in the release. “This approach undermines constitutional rights and directly threatens the integrity of California’s agricultural economy.”
The organization said it urges swift action at the local, state and federal levels to safeguard farmworkers and ensure the continuity of the state’s agricultural industry.
“Let us be unequivocal: racial profiling is illegal. Intimidation is not enforcement,” the organization said. “Using fear to destabilize the workforce that powers our farms is a reckless and short-sighted tactic with far-reaching consequences. These actions erode community trust, disrupt harvests, and impose undue strain on operations large and small. When our workforce is afraid, fields go unharvested, packinghouses fall behind, and market supply chains, from local grocery stores to national retailers, are affected. This impacts every American who eats.”
The Farm Bureau of Ventura County also said these workers support the county’s $2 billion agricultural economy, and the industry cannot function without the contributions of the ag workforce. These workers, the organization said, are skilled professionals and bring strong experience and work ethic to the county’s fields.
“Their labor is the reason our region is recognized as one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world,” the organization said. “Farm Bureau members care deeply about their workers, not as abstract labor, but as human beings and valued community members who deserve dignity, safety and respect. Ventura County agriculture depends on them. California’s economy depends on them. America’s food system depends on them.”
The Farm Bureau of Ventura County said in the release that it urges the following local actions:
- Law enforcement agencies must be trained on their constitutional responsibilities, including the right to decline unlawful orders from ICE, CBP or other federal entities. The defense of “I was just following orders” is neither legally nor morally sufficient. Officers must be empowered to uphold civil liberties, not violate them.
- The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office should implement a policy to notify the Rapid Response Network (RRN) when ICE operations occur, similar to how fire departments notify the Red Cross during house fires. RRN offers legal assistance, emergency support and trauma-informed care to affected families, providing essential resources to maintain community stability.
- The organization also recommends the county train designated staff who work throughout the county, such as Weights and Measures and Ag Commissioner staff to serve as legal observers during ICE operations. The presence of trained observers, who document and question from a safe distance, has been shown to deter unlawful detentions and reduce instances of racial profiling.
The organization listed several state actions, calling on California’s assembly members and State Senators to seek:
- Standardized training for local agencies
- Stronger limits on cooperation with federal immigration enforcement
- Prohibitions against data-sharing or indirect involvement in ICE operations
And the organization listed several federal actions, calling on federal representatives to:
- Conduct immediate investigations into ICE activity in Ventura County
- Withhold funding from operations that violate constitutional protections
- Take legislative steps to reduce the militarization of immigration enforcement in agricultural communities
