George Retes, a 25-year-old U.S. citizen and Iraq War veteran, spent three days in federal custody after being caught in a large-scale immigration enforcement action at a Southern California cannabis farm. During that time, he said he was denied access to a lawyer, prevented from contacting his family, and placed in an isolation cell, all without being charged with a crime.
Retes, a security guard at Glass House Farms in Camarillo, said he was on his way to work on July 10 when he encountered an ICE roadblock amid protests and federal agents. According to Retes, officers broke his car window, sprayed him with pepper spray and tear gas, and forcibly removed him from the vehicle. Two officers placed a knee on his back while another knelt on his neck, despite his compliance and repeated attempts to identify himself as a U.S. citizen.
He was transported first to a nearby Navy base and then to the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, where he remained in custody for three nights. Retes described being covered in chemical irritants, denied showers or fresh clothing, and placed on suicide watch after becoming emotionally distraught. Meanwhile, his family was unable to locate him, and he missed his daughter’s third birthday. He said he received no explanation for his detention and was released without apology or charges.
Now, Retes is seeking accountability through the Federal Tort Claims Act, a law that allows citizens to sue the federal government when harmed by its employees. Represented by the Institute for Justice, a nonprofit public interest law firm, Retes has submitted claims to the federal agencies involved. Only if the agencies deny or fail to act on the claims within six months can he proceed to court.
“I’m calling out the federal government not just for what they did to me, but for what they are doing to others,” Retes said. “I’m continuing to fight for this country, now as a civilian.”
Attorneys representing Retes described the case as an example of how federal agents can strip Americans of basic constitutional protections, even when those individuals have served in the military. “George’s claims are a critical step to enforce the Constitution and other laws in court,” said Institute for Justice attorney Marie Miller.
Senior attorney Anya Bidwell added, “Without accountability for these actions, the relationship between citizens and their government remains broken. George is doing his part to repair that relationship, just as he did when he served his country in Iraq.”
The raid at Glass House Farms was part of a broader federal enforcement operation that led to the detention of hundreds of people, including undocumented workers, and sparked protests from farmworkers and advocacy groups. One worker died after falling from a greenhouse roof during the operation. Federal officials have not clarified why Retes, a U.S. citizen, was detained or addressed his allegations of excessive force.
Retes’ case comes amid a climate of heightened scrutiny over immigration enforcement in Southern California. A federal judge recently issued a temporary order barring indiscriminate arrests without warrants in seven counties, including Los Angeles, after concerns that some detainees were targeted based on their appearance rather than any alleged wrongdoing.
As he pursues his legal claim, Retes has also launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover legal expenses. He said his goal is not only personal redress but to ensure that others do not face the same treatment. “This is about holding the government accountable,” he said. “I served this country, and now I want it to do right by me.”
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