WASHINGTON, July 13 (Reuters) - Federal officials on Sunday defended President Donald Trump 's escalating campaign to deport immigrants in the U.S. illegally, including a California farm raid that left one worker dead, and said the administration would appeal a ruling to halt some of its more aggressive tactics.

Authorities executed criminal search warrants in Carpinteria and Camarillo, California, on Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security said.

On the heels of major shows of force by federal immigration agents in Southern California, a judge is set to rule in a lawsuit seeking to halt immigration raids in Los Angeles.