Border Patrol Agents Use Tear Gas Against Protesters at Ventura County Farm
U.S. Border Patrol agents fired tear gas canisters and less-lethal rounds at protesters near a Ventura County agricultural facility, escalating tensions during what appeared to be an immigration enforcement operation.
The confrontation occurred when demonstrators gathered to oppose Border Patrol activities at the farm location. Agents deployed crowd control measures including chemical irritants and rubber bullets to disperse the growing crowd of protesters.
Video footage from the scene showed thick clouds of tear gas spreading across the area as people scattered. The exact number of protesters involved remains unclear, though witnesses described a significant gathering before agents intervened.
Border Patrol officials have not yet released statements explaining the circumstances that led to the use of force. The agency typically employs such tactics only when agents perceive threats to public safety or officer security.
Immigration enforcement operations at agricultural sites have become increasingly contentious in California. Farm workers and advocacy groups often organize rapid response efforts when Border Patrol agents conduct raids at rural workplaces.
No injuries have been confirmed from the incident, though several protesters reportedly sought medical attention for tear gas exposure. Local law enforcement agencies have not announced whether any arrests occurred during the confrontation.
The clash highlights ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and community resistance efforts in California’s agricultural regions, where undocumented workers comprise a significant portion of the farm labor force.
