US Army Veteran George Retes Arrested During California Immigration Raid Faces Civil Rights Suit

(CAMARILLO) A 25-year-old U.S. Army veteran, George Retes, is suing the federal government after he was detained for three days during a July 10 immigration raid at Glass House Farms in Camarillo, Ventura County. Retes says he identified himself as a U.S. citizen and a veteran several times yet was pepper-sprayed, pulled from his car, and held without charges.

His detention — which followed a large-scale immigration raid and an ICE protest that unfolded at the farm gates — has ignited a nationwide debate about civil rights, the limits of federal power during immigration enforcement, and how authorities treat citizens caught up in such operations. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the case is quickly becoming a touchstone for discussions about due process during federal actions tied to immigration.

The Camarillo raid in context

Retes’s case comes amid one of California’s largest enforcement operations since 2017, with more than 360 people detained in coordinated actions across multiple farms in Southern California. The July 2025 immigration raid in Camarillo drew immediate protests from workers’ families, community advocates, and civil rights groups. Clashes followed as federal agents in military-style gear advanced through farm properties while protesters tried to reach detained loved ones.

Witnesses reported that chemical agents and less-lethal rounds were used to keep people back. Tensions also spread to Los Angeles, where related protests had already become a daily fixture throughout June and July.

What Retes says happened

Retes, who was on his way to work a security shift, says he drove into a checkpoint outside Glass House Farms, unaware the site was a focus of the immigration raid. He reports:

• He verbally told agents he was a U.S. citizen and a veteran, and provided identification.
• Agents shattered his car window, pepper-sprayed him, dragged him out, and pinned him to the ground.
• He asked for a lawyer and to call his family, but was denied both.
• He was transported to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles, placed in isolation, and then put on suicide watch after becoming distraught.
• After three days and three nights, he was released without charges and asked to sign paperwork he says was never explained.

If these allegations are accurate, they raise serious concerns about due process and the treatment of citizens during immigration enforcement operations.

Legal action and claims

Retes’s attorney, Marie Miller of the Institute for Justice, has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the federal government. The complaint:

• Names actions tied to the Trump administration and seeks damages and policy changes to prevent similar incidents.
• Argues the raid response violated Retes’s constitutional rights, including:
  • Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable seizures,
  • Fifth Amendment due process rights,
  • First Amendment protections related to protests.
• Claims the government used excessive force, refused access to counsel and family contact, and prolonged detention without charges.

Miller’s team says the case is broader than one veteran; it questions whether U.S. citizens can be swept up in immigration enforcement, deprived of basic protections, and released with no record of wrongdoing. They seek policy reforms requiring rapid verification of citizenship, timely phone calls, and clear paperwork for those released.

“This case is about whether U.S. citizens can be swept up in immigration enforcement, deprived of basic protections, and then released without any record of wrongdoing.” — legal team (paraphrased)

Government and political responses

Federal officials have not publicly detailed the legal basis for Retes’s detention. DHS and ICE have emphasized that the wider operation targeted people with criminal records and immigration violations, but they have declined to comment on individual detentions tied to the Camarillo action.

Political reactions include:

• Governor Gavin Newsom: Criticized the raids as chaotic and an affront to rights; his office has pursued legal paths to challenge elements of the federal actions.
• President Trump: Defended the broader enforcement surge as necessary for national security and border control, saying the law must be applied consistently even amid protests.
• Federal agencies: Stress they must make rapid decisions in high-pressure environments and that safety is the priority, though they have not addressed the specific claims in Retes’s case.

Raids and protest timeline

• By early June, Southern California had become a focal point for stepped-up enforcement. Protests in Los Angeles drew heavy federal presence.
• During that period, President Trump federalized the California National Guard and deployed Marines to secure facilities and support operations during demonstrations related to immigration. The move drew criticism from state leaders and civil rights groups.
• On July 10, the Camarillo raid at Glass House Farms took place as part of a coordinated push across agricultural sites.
• The ICE protest at the farm gates grew quickly. Families and advocacy groups arrived with medical supplies and cameras while federal agents in riot gear pushed people back from perimeter roads.

In the chaos, a farmworker, Jaime Alanis Garcia, died after falling from a greenhouse roof while reportedly trying to avoid arrest. His death intensified anger and grief across Ventura County. Federal officials have not released detailed findings on the death, and calls for an independent review have grown louder.

Civil rights questions and legal implications

The lawsuit raises multiple legal issues that could shape future enforcement practice:

• Constitutional claims under the Fourth, Fifth, and First Amendments.
• Allegations of excessive force: pepper spray in a confined vehicle, window breakage, physical restraint.
• Denial of access to counsel and family contact.
• Prolonged detention without charges and lack of explanation.

Legal scholars say this case could influence how courts assess government authority during mass enforcement actions, including checkpoints, vehicle stops, and use of less-lethal force near protests. A court ruling for Retes could require:

• Tighter screening protocols to prevent citizen detentions.
• Clear rules on communication rights while in custody.
• Better documentation and transparency after operations.

Community impact

On the ground in Ventura County, the fallout has been tangible:

• Families spent days at detention centers trying to confirm whether loved ones were inside.
• Reports of missed medications, lost wages, and children kept home from programs out of fear.
• Local clinics reported an increase in stress-related symptoms like sleeplessness and panic attacks.
• Community leaders hosted listening sessions near farm communities to track who was detained and who remained missing.

Worker advocates say the raids exposed vulnerabilities in the agricultural sector where employment mixes citizens, lawful residents, and people without status. Shared housing and carpools mean news of roadblocks and buses can trigger panic, which can lead to accidents and injuries.

Advice, public reaction, and broader trust issues

Legal hotlines saw a surge in calls after July 10. Common questions included:

• What to do if stopped at a checkpoint during an immigration raid.
• How to show citizenship quickly.
• Whether one can demand a lawyer at the scene.

Attorneys generally advise:

1. Carry proof of identity and citizenship when possible.
2. Calmly state your status.
3. Seek legal help promptly.

But Retes’s account complicates that advice because he says he followed those steps and was still detained. Policy experts warn that high-profile raids erode trust between communities and local authorities, leading to fewer crime reports, reduced cooperation, and lasting fear.

Calls for reforms and community proposals

Advocates and local leaders suggest practical steps to reduce harm during future operations:

• Safe assembly areas for families near enforcement sites.
• Designated legal observers and medical teams on standby.
• Official hotlines and real-time detainee lists for attorneys.
• Body-worn camera policies that preserve footage of vehicle stops.
• Written notice requirements for anyone released after being held.

Worker groups also request training so people better understand their rights and how to stay safe if a raid begins on the job. For citizens: carry ID and emergency contacts. For noncitizens: prepare legal screenings and family plans in advance.

Veterans’ concerns

Veterans’ groups say Retes’s case raises painful questions about how someone who served the country can be treated as a suspect during a domestic operation. Points of concern include:

• Veterans may have unique stress or trauma that increases risk during forceful interactions.
• Placement of a veteran on suicide watch should prompt immediate supervisory review.
• Agencies may need better training to recognize and de-escalate encounters with veterans and other vulnerable populations.

What’s next

The lawsuit is now the formal route to answers. The Institute for Justice seeks not only damages but agency policy changes that would:

• Require verification of status before prolonged detention.
• Allow timely phone calls to family and counsel.
• Provide clear paperwork for those released without charges.

Possible outcomes:

• If Retes prevails, federal agencies may be ordered to update detention, verification, and communication protocols — changes that could ripple across future operations.
• If he loses, advocates worry similar practices will continue.

Larger implications

The Camarillo raid is part of a broader national debate about interior enforcement and the balance between federal authority and civil rights. Key questions remain:

• What guardrails exist when the government moves with force in civilian spaces?
• Who is accountable when those guardrails fail?
• How should federal deployments intersect with civilian protests and state-level concerns?

For readers seeking official agency materials, see the ICE website at ICE. It provides agency statements, policy outlines, and public information contacts.

Closing: the human stakes

For George Retes, the impact is personal. He says he went to work and ended up in a federal holding cell miles from home despite showing ID and stating his status. He still worries about why he was held and what happened during those three days.

The Camarillo raid—marked by high detentions, the death of a farmworker, and the detention of a U.S. Army veteran—has become emblematic on both sides: for those who demand strict enforcement and for those who fear civil rights violations. The courts will sort the facts, but the event has already changed lives in Ventura County and sharpened the national conversation about how immigration enforcement is carried out on U.S. soil.