A 25-year-old disabled U.S. Army veteran who was detained during a controversial federal raid on a cannabis farm in Ventura County has spoken out for the first time, calling his arrest “a violation of my civil rights” and demanding a full investigation into the conduct of immigration agents involved in the operation.
George Retes, a U.S. citizen and security guard at Glass House Farms in Camarillo, was taken into federal custody on July 10 during what authorities described as a large-scale immigration enforcement action. The raid drew protests from farmworkers, advocacy groups, and the United Farm Workers Union, which initially reported Retes’ detention and later announced his release without charges.
In a statement to KTLA on Tuesday, Retes said he was “wrongfully detained by ICE agents while simply trying to report to work.” He alleged that he was pepper-sprayed, tear-gassed, had his car window smashed, and was forcibly removed from his vehicle at gunpoint — all while complying with orders and identifying himself as both a U.S. citizen and an employee.
“I clearly identified myself as a U.S. citizen and an employee at the farm,” Retes wrote, “yet federal agents ignored me, yelled conflicting orders, and then violently detained me.”
According to Retes, he was held in custody for three days without being charged, without access to a phone call, and without legal representation. He said he was never told why he had been arrested and received no medical attention despite being “covered in tear gas and OC spray for days.”
“This is not how any American should be treated — especially not a veteran who served this country with honor,” he said. “I didn’t break any law. I was just trying to go to work.”
Retes’ statement directly challenges the federal agencies involved in the raid, which has already come under scrutiny after the union reported that at least one person died during the operation.
“What happened to me wasn’t just a mistake — it was a violation of my civil rights,” Retes said. “It was excessive force. And it was a failure of justice.”
He is now calling for a full investigation into the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and any other agencies involved in the raid.
“I want the agents who ignored protocol and used force against me to be held accountable,” he said. “And I want the public to know the truth: this raid didn’t just target immigrants. It hurt Americans too.”
Retes concluded his statement by vowing not to remain silent. “I served this country,” he said, “and now I’m demanding it do right by me.”
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