U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, Bill Essayli, says the California State University Channel Islands professor who was detained during an immigration raid protest in Camarillo on Thursday will be federally charged.
The California Faculty Association first posited that Professor Jonathan Anthony Caravello was “kidnapped” by federal agents during Thursday’s unrest in a social media post. The post indicated that the professor, a math and philosophy lecturer, was taken by federal agents who did not identify themselves nor disclose where they were taking him.
On Sunday, CSUCI put out a statement saying officials were aware of the reports that Professor Caravello had been detained.
“At this time, it is our understanding that Professor Caravello was peacefully participating in a protest – an act protected under the First Amendment and a right guaranteed to all Americans,” the statement reads. “If confirmed, we stand with elected officials and community leaders calling for his immediate release.”
A separate post by the California Faculty Association published Saturday indicated he was located, although no further information was disclosed.
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, however, said late Sunday morning that Caravello’s actions were not peaceful. Reposting the KTLA article on the CSUCI statement to his X page, Essayli dismissed the claim that Caravello was “kidnapped” and said he threw a tear gas canister at law enforcement.
“He is charged with a violation of 18 USC 111 and will have a court appearance [Monday],” Essayli said.
Those charged with violations of United States Penal Code 18 USC 111 are accused of “assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees,” according to federal law.
The protest sprung up while federal immigration agents conducted a raid at a Glass House Farms marijuana grow facility in Camarillo on Thursday. A simultaneous raid was conducted at a Glass House Farms facility in Carpinteria.
More than 300 people were arrested in those raids, federal officials said, adding that they found at least ten child workers. Glass House Farms is now facing alleged child labor law violations; the company says it is cooperating fully with authorities.
Tear gas canisters were deployed at the protests, which occurred near the CSUCI campus.
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