In one of the largest coordinated immigration enforcement actions in recent years, federal agents recently raided two licensed cannabis farms in California. The raids have sparked national debate and attracted the attention of labor advocates and civil rights organizations. Now New Mexicans are wondering if something like this could happen in the Land of Enchantment.
On July 10, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents executed criminal search warrants at two marijuana farms operated by Glass House Farms in Camarillo and Carpinteria. The early-morning raids resulted in the detention of over 300 individuals, including at least 14 minors and several U.S. citizens.
Federal officials cited allegations of child labor, human trafficking and immigration violations as the reason for the raids. The move represents one of the largest single-day worksite enforcement actions in recent memory.
But the raids didn’t exactly go as planned. One farmworker died after falling from a greenhouse rooftop, and several U.S. citizens were mistakenly detained. The raids were reportedly conducted without coordination with state or local officials, and critics have accused the federal government of politically motivated overreach against a regulated state-licensed industry.
While no similar actions have yet been reported in New Mexico’s cannabis sector, federal immigration enforcement is alive and well in the state.
In June, ICE agents carried out a raid on a dairy farm near Lovington in southeastern New Mexico. The operation led to the arrest of 11 individuals, nine of whom had prior deportation orders. That same month, ICE conducted multiple enforcement actions at construction sites and restaurants in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho. Community advocates and legal aid groups have since documented a sharp rise in workplace immigration enforcement throughout the state.
Recent reports of ICE targeting farms in central New Mexico should be of particular interest to the state’s cannabis producers. Although ICE has not publicly identified cannabis farms in New Mexico as enforcement targets, the industry leaders are watching developments in California with unease. Given the political climate and active ICE operations in similar sectors, cannabis farms could be targeted under broader enforcement strategies.
“What happened in California should concern everyone in the cannabis industry — but let’s be clear: New Mexico is not California,” says Duke Rodriguez, CEO of Ultra Health. “Our operators know the rules, follow the law and have no shortage of qualified, legal workers.”
Rodriguez says hiring undocumented workers at a licensed cannabis operation would be reckless. “In New Mexico, we’re building a system based on compliance, safety and trust,” he says. “The last thing we need is fear-based enforcement disrupting that progress.”
Indy White, Legal Counsel for the NM Cannabis Chamber and CEO of Silver Sap, tells The Paper. that illicit cannabis grows in rural areas rely on migrant labor and could be targets for federal immigration officials.
“What concerns me more is that many of these illegal operations not only exploit vulnerable migrant workers under inhumane conditions, but also skirt the rigorous testing, taxation and compliance requirements that licensed operators are held to,” says White. “These ‘shadow grows’ cast a long and damaging shadow over the legal industry — undermining public trust, distorting market prices and putting compliant businesses at a disadvantage. The focus should be on shutting down exploitation and leveling the playing field — not just immigration crackdowns.”
In response to the broader pattern of immigration enforcement in the state, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and state legislators have reiterated New Mexico’s sanctuary policies and pledged to uphold immigrant rights. Legal aid organizations, such as the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center, have ramped up know-your-rights training and distributed legal resources to farmworkers and cannabis employees.
As public concern grows, cannabis businesses are being urged to review employment practices, maintain clear documentation and prepare for the possibility of unexpected federal inspections.
With the memory of the California raids still fresh, cannabis operators and immigrant communities in New Mexico remain on edge. The events of July 10 have served as a warning that even licensed, regulated, and state-compliant businesses are not immune from federal enforcement priorities — especially in a climate where immigration and drug policy continue to collide.