US Army Veteran Alleges Brutal Treatment in California Immigration Raid, Plans Lawsuit

A U.S. Army veteran is speaking out after being arrested during a federal immigration raid at a Southern California marijuana farm last week, alleging he was subjected to tear gas, pepper spray, and physical force despite identifying himself as a U.S. citizen. George Retes, 25, a security guard, was detained on July 10 and held for three days without charges or access to legal counsel, sparking widespread condemnation.

Retes, who served four years in the Army including a deployment to Iraq in 2019, recounted being surrounded by federal agents, having his car window broken, and being pepper-sprayed before being dragged out and pinned down. Despite his repeated assertions of U.S. citizenship, he was transported to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles. He claims he was denied a shower or change of clothes despite being covered in irritants, and was never informed of the reason for his arrest or given contact with family or a lawyer.

The incident is part of a larger series of chaotic raids that led to over 360 detentions across two Southern California farms, an operation criticized for its aggressive tactics which included one farmworker dying after falling from a greenhouse roof. California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the actions, calling the administration a “chaos agent” and highlighting the lack of due process.

Retes was released Sunday without charges, yet authorities confirmed his case, along with others, is under review for potential federal charges. A federal judge recently ordered a halt to indiscriminate immigration stops and arrests without warrants in several California counties, a ruling the Justice Department has appealed. Retes has vowed to sue federal authorities for wrongful detention, stating, “No one deserves to be treated the way they treat people.”

阅读中文版 (Read Chinese Version)

Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.