A Year After Raids, Central Coast Activists Protest Ongoing Detentions

Hundreds of people in the city of Carpinteria participated in a miles-long march on Saturday, protesting against the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts and commemorating one year since numerous community members were detained during large-scale raids in the area and Ventura County. The event was a powerful display of unity and resistance, highlighting the ongoing struggles faced by immigrant communities.

Last year, federal immigration agents conducted operations at two licensed cannabis facilities in California’s Central Coast. In a single day, over 300 individuals were taken into custody. Among those detained was a lecturer at CSU Channel Islands, who faced severe legal consequences for allegedly throwing a tear gas canister back at a Border Patrol agent. The incident led to a potential sentence of nearly 20 years in prison.

George Retes, a U.S. citizen and veteran who worked as a security guard at one of the facilities, was also detained and held incommunicado for several days before being released without charges. Another tragic loss was Jaime Alanís García, a father and farmworker who died from injuries sustained after falling from a greenhouse roof. On Saturday, marchers carried posters featuring his image with the message “REST IN POWER,” while others held signs that read “ABOLISH ICE.”

Many participants shared their experiences with the Daily News Lit, explaining that they came to Carpinteria in solidarity with family members who rushed to the area when they heard about the raids last summer. Mitch Lillie, a member of the grassroots organization VC Defensa, described the day as unforgettable. He recalled the desperate attempts of community members to reach their loved ones on the phone, noting that many were emotional and overwhelmed.

From the beach to the field

The march began at Carpinteria State Beach, located just steps away from the Pacific Ocean. Under the scorching summer sun, participants made their way toward Glass House Farms, one of the cannabis facilities targeted by federal authorities. Along the route, some drivers honked in support of the marchers, while one man shouted “Viva Trump!” from inside his car.

At various stops along the way, Bianca Perez used a staple gun to affix signs on trees and utility poles. Each sign was decorated with faux monarch butterflies, symbolizing the multi-generational migration across North America. These sites have been associated with previous detentions by federal immigration agents, including on this year’s Father’s Day. Perez, part of the grassroots organization Carpinteria Sin Fronteras, explained that her group alerts the community about the presence of immigration agents and helps locate missing loved ones.

“We hold their stories super close to our hearts, with a lot of respect and love,” she said. “It is hard not to take all that in. A lot of the time, we are the first call when one of their family members has been taken.”

The day that changed everything

Outside of Glass House Farms, local leaders and U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal delivered short speeches to a sun-worn crowd. Many attendees shared where they were when they first learned about the raids on July 10, 2025. Teresa Alvarez, executive director of the Carpinteria Children’s Project, recounted how she was giving a tour of the nonprofit’s facilities when the news broke. Without hesitation, she and her team rushed out, only to be met with armed federal immigration agents.

“I knew I needed to be here. But as a mom and an immigrant myself, I was terrified — especially when I realized I had no cell service and wasn’t sure what would happen if things escalated,” she added.

Alvarez and other speakers emphasized that although large-scale raids have not occurred recently, community members should continue advocating for change. She reminded marchers of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a builder who was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Houston, Texas earlier this month. “That could have been my dad. That could have been your dad,” she said.

VC Defensa’s Lillie described July 10 as both a “day of mourning” and a “day of resistance.” He recalled the tear gas and pepper bullets that rained down on protesters and the unexpected support from strangers. On Saturday, he encouraged marchers to join grassroots organizations and help their immigrant neighbors in any way possible, whether by providing rides to court appointments or assisting those who have lost their breadwinners.

“That is how we transform a tragedy,” he said.