A U.S. Army veteran was arrested during an immigration raid at a Southern California marijuana farm, recounting a harrowing experience that involved being sprayed with tear gas and pepper spray. George Retes, 25, who works as a security guard at Glass House Farms in Camarillo, detailed his ordeal on July 10 when he arrived at work to find multiple federal agents surrounding his vehicle.
Despite identifying himself as a U.S. citizen, Retes reported that federal agents broke his car window, used pepper spray on him, and forcibly dragged him from his vehicle. “It took two officers to pin my back, while another held my neck to arrest me, even though my hands were already behind my back,” Retes explained. This incident occurred amidst chaotic raids at two Southern California farms, where federal authorities detained more than 360 individuals — one of the largest immigration operations since President Donald Trump took office.
The raids, which took place in Ventura County, raised alarm among local officials and immigrant communities. Protesters confronted federal agents dressed in military-style gear, and tragedy struck when a farmworker lost his life after falling from a greenhouse roof. California Governor Gavin Newsom addressed the situation during a news conference, labeling Trump a “chaos agent” who has fostered fear and violence in communities. “You got someone who dropped 30 feet because they were scared to death and lost their life,” he stated, referring to the deceased farmworker. “People are quite literally disappearing with no due process, no rights.”
Following his arrest, Retes was taken to the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, where he claimed he was placed in a special cell on suicide watch. He expressed emotional distress over his situation, especially as he missed his 3-year-old daughter’s birthday party. During his three-day detention, Retes claimed that federal agents did not inform him of the reasons for his arrest, nor did they allow him to contact a lawyer or his family. “They never let me shower or change clothes, despite being covered in tear gas and pepper spray,” he said, noting that his hands burned throughout his first night in custody.
On Sunday, an officer handed him a document to sign and released him without any charges. Retes described the lack of explanation upon his release, stating, “They gave me nothing I could wrap my head around,” as he inquired about the rationale for his three-day detention.
Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, confirmed Retes’ arrest but did not specify any charges. “George Retes was arrested and has been released,” she stated, adding that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is reviewing his case along with others for potential federal charges related to the execution of the federal search warrant in Camarillo.
In response to the escalating situation, a federal judge recently ordered the Trump administration to cease indiscriminate immigration stops and arrests without warrants in seven California counties, including Los Angeles. Immigrant advocates have accused federal agents of targeting individuals based solely on their appearance, particularly those who are Latino. In light of the crackdown, the Pentagon announced it would withdraw 2,000 National Guard troops deployed in Los Angeles, significantly reducing the military presence that had been accompanying federal agents during immigration enforcement operations.
George Retes enlisted in the Army at the age of 18 and served for four years, including a deployment to Iraq in 2019. “I joined the service to help better myself,” he expressed. “I did it because I love this country. We are one nation, and no matter what, we should be together. All this separation is just the way it shouldn’t be.”
Determined to seek justice, Retes plans to file a lawsuit for wrongful detention. He criticized the current immigration enforcement policies, stating, “The way they’re going about this entire deportation process is completely wrong, chasing people who are just working, especially trying to feed everyone here in the U.S. No one deserves to be treated this way.”
Retes was not the only individual arrested during the raids; he was detained alongside Jonathan Caravello, a professor at California State University Channel Islands, also a U.S. citizen. Caravello was accused of throwing a tear gas canister at law enforcement during the chaos. The California Faculty Association reported that Caravello was also taken into custody without being informed of the reasons or allowed to contact his family. A federal judge subsequently ordered Caravello’s release on a $15,000 bond, with an arraignment scheduled for August 1.
Reflecting on his experience, Retes emphasized the broader implications of these actions, stating, “I want everyone to know what happened. This doesn’t just affect one person. It doesn’t matter if your skin is brown or white. It doesn’t matter if you’re a veteran or if you served this country. They don’t care. They’re just there to fill a quota.”
