Disabled veteran wrongfully detained in immigration raid speaks out

In Camarillo, California, a U.S. Army veteran named George Retes, aged 25, experienced a deeply alarming incident during an immigration raid at the Glass House Farms marijuana facility where he was employed as a security guard. The incident occurred on July 10, 2025, when Retes was arriving for work. Federal agents surrounded his vehicle, despite him clearly identifying himself as a U.S. citizen and an employee of the farm. Instead of heeding his identification, agents broke the car window, pepper-sprayed him, and forcefully dragged him from the vehicle, subjecting him to a physically aggressive arrest process. This alarming use of force shocked Retes, who later recounted that two officers held his back while another pinned his neck, even though his hands were already behind his back. Following the arrest, Retes was taken to the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, where he faced three days of detention without any formal charges being brought against him. During this period, he was denied the opportunity to contact a lawyer or inform his family, which only compounded his distress. He described his emotional state, particularly feeling upset about missing his three-year-old daughter's birthday party while enduring this unjust treatment. Retes expressed that he was aware of the traumatic nature and unreasonableness of the actions taken against him. Concerned about the implications of his wrongful apprehension, Retes stated that his experience was not just an unfortunate mistake but rather a significant violation of his civil rights. His call for investigation highlights broader concerns regarding law enforcement conduct during immigration operations. In light of these events, Tricia McLaughlin, the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, confirmed that Retes had been released, but clarified that the U.S. Attorney's Office was reviewing his case along with multiple others for potential federal charges related to the search warrant execution in Camarillo. This distressing incident not only points to potential failings of justice but also raises alarms for other citizens who might find themselves in similar positions, risking wrongful detention without proper recourse. The aftermath of the incident illustrates how veteran citizens like Retes could unexpectedly find themselves caught in federal immigration enforcement actions. His case exemplifies the need for investigations into such operations to ensure that the rights and dignity of individuals, especially those who have served in the military, are upheld and not violated by the agents of law.