Ice agent injuries rates in Trump’s immigrant crackdown
Amid a surge in immigration enforcement, US federal agents are hospitalized after being hurt and injured by public and dangerous arrests.
President Donald Trump’s “border emperor” Tom Homan, who has called the fatality “unhappiness” in response to the reported deaths of Mexican farm workers following the migrant attacks in California, defended immigration and customs enforcement actions in the area.
“That’s sad. It’s a shame,” Homan told CNN’s Dana Bash to “State of the Union.”
“When there is death, that’s obviously a shame,” he said. “I don’t want to see anyone die.”
Jaime Alanis, 57, died on July 12 after immigrants were injured the day before he swept two cannabis farms in northern Los Angeles and arrested about 200 people.
According to multiple reports, Alanis climbed the roof of a greenhouse where he allegedly attempted to avoid officers. He then fell about 30 feet and broke his neck. Alanis passed away the next day at a local hospital.
In an interview with CNN, Homan defended immigrant staff and said he was “at work” in Alanis fall.
“He was not in ice custody,” Homan said. “Ice didn’t have his hand on this person.”
Other workers were seriously injured, according to United Farm Worker President Teresa Romero.
California’s USA Today Network reported that the enforcement caused a chaotic scene on cannabis farms. On the morning of July 10th, immigration agents descended on Glasshouse Farm near Camarillo and Carpinteria, a greenhouse complex that is one of the state’s largest marijuana farms. They blocked the main road and clashed with protesters until dark as agents detained farm workers.
In addition to the undocumented arrest of workers, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that “law enforcement has rescued at least 10 migrant children from things like exploitation, child labour, potentially human trafficking or smuggling.”
Trump’s immigrant crackdown, the heart of his re-election bid, has led to an increase in assaults.
Contributors: Isaiah Martau and Sheri Carlson
