Iraq War Veteran, George Retes (Photo: George Retes)

George Retes, a 25-year-old U.S. Army Veteran and security guard, says he plans to take legal action after being detained during a federal immigration raid at Glass House Farms, a licensed cannabis farm in Camarillo, earlier this month. Retes, a U.S. citizen who served four years in the Army and deployed to Iraq in 2019, said he was arrested on July 10 while reporting for work, even after telling agents who he was and why he was there.

“They ignored me,” Retes told reporters. “They didn’t care what I had to say. They automatically accused me of just, I guess, doing something wrong. They escalated it from there.”

Per Retes, officers smashed Retes’ car window, pulled him from the vehicle, pepper-sprayed him, and pinned him to the ground.

“They took two officers to kneel on my back and then one on my neck to arrest me, even though my hands were already behind my back and I was covered in [pepper spray],” he said.

The Department of Homeland Security arrested more than 360 people during coordinated raids at the Camarillo facility and a second location in Carpinteria. Officials said the raids were linked to an investigation into potential labor violations, including the use of child labor.

Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the DHS, confirmed that Retes had been arrested and later released without any charges filed.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is reviewing his case, along with dozens of others, for potential federal charges related to the execution of the federal search warrant in Camarillo,” she said.

Video from the scene shows federal agents using tear gas and less-than-lethal rounds to break up protests near the farm. Retes said the officers shouted conflicting commands before escalating the situation. He has not returned to work and is still recovering from the experience.

Retes had spent three days in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles without ever being told why he was arrested. He said he was not allowed to shower, make a phone call, or speak to an attorney. His hands burned throughout the night, and he couldn’t sleep. Even after returning home and washing up, he still felt the effects of the pepper spray.

While he was in custody, Retes missed his daughter’s third birthday. He said the stress of the situation led to him being placed on suicide watch.

“The way they’re going about this entire deportation process is completely wrong,” Retes said. “No one deserves to be treated the way they treat people.”

Retes believes a lawsuit is necessary to bring attention to what happened.

“I’m here speaking for everyone who doesn’t have a chance to speak,” he said.

Author: Rikki Almanza

Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted family connection to the military, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.