Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), who is considering a 2028 presidential run, faced criticism for spreading false claims about the recent ICE raid at Glass House Farms. Gallego alleged that President Donald Trump’s ICE targeted families who were “picking our food” and had been doing so for years. However, these claims were quickly debunked since the farm in question grows marijuana, not edible produce.
Gallego amplified a post from political commentator Brian Allen on X, who wrote that ICE was arresting “the very farm workers who keep America’s produce aisles stocked,” calling it “self-sabotage in uniform.” Gallego shared Allen’s post, insisting that instead of focusing on dangerous criminals, Trump was targeting families who have been working in agriculture for years, sparking public outrage.
Democratic Representative Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) also echoed these false claims, stating that federal agents were arresting undocumented workers who were picking strawberries. Gomez criticized Trump’s immigration enforcement, saying, “How many MS-13 gang members are waking up at 3 a.m. to pick strawberries? O’yeah, zero!”
He added, “Trump said he’d go after ‘bad hombres,’ but he’s targeting the immigrant farm workers who feed America.” The false narrative around the raid has fueled protests and political backlash, with critics accusing the administration of misdirected enforcement and harming immigrant communities.
Yet, the facts clearly show the targeted operation involved a cannabis farm, not traditional food production, contradicting claims made by Gallego and others.
