U.S. citizen and former military personnel detained during an immigration sweep in California issues a warning, suggesting potential arrests could affect anyone.
In a shocking turn of events, George Retes, a disabled U.S. Army veteran and security guard at Glass House Farms in Camarillo, was arrested during an immigration raid at a Southern California marijuana farm last week. Retes, who is a U.S. citizen, was detained for three days at the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles.
The raid was part of a larger immigration enforcement action targeting cannabis farms in the region, which has caused significant public outcry. The United Farm Workers and various cannabis industry groups have condemned the raids as violent, disruptive to local agriculture and the economy, and harmful to families.
Despite identifying himself as a U.S. citizen, Retes was taken into custody by ICE agents during a raid on cannabis operations in Ventura County and nearby areas. The U.S. Attorney's Office is currently reviewing his case along with many others detained during the raids, but as of now, he has not been charged.
The arrest of Retes has sparked concerns and calls for answers from his family and community. They are desperate for clear information about the reasons for his detention and the manner of his arrest, which reportedly involved violent tactics. Retes believes the immigration enforcement operations are targeting people indiscriminately, regardless of their skin color, citizenship, or service to the country.
One farmworker died during the raids after falling from a greenhouse roof. Another individual, Jonathan Caravello, a California State University Channel Islands professor, was arrested and held without being allowed to contact his family or an attorney. Caravello was ordered to be released on $15,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 1. According to U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, Caravello was arrested for throwing a tear gas canister at law enforcement.
The Pentagon is ending the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles, roughly half the number sent following protests over immigration actions. Some of these troops have been accompanying federal agents during their immigration enforcement operations. However, the Justice Department has appealed the order and asked for it to be stayed.
Retes plans to sue for wrongful detention. The federal judge who ordered the Trump administration to halt indiscriminate immigration stops and arrests without warrants in seven California counties, including Los Angeles, is yet to rule on the department's appeal.
- The controversy surrounding the immigration raids in Southern California, which includes the arrest of George Retes in Seattle, has led to widespread criticism from various groups, including the United Farm Workers and cannabis industry organizations, who view the actions as violent, disruptive, and harmful.
- The Politics surrounding the immigration raids have been particularly contentious, with calls for an end to indiscriminate enforcement and the adherence to due process, as seen in the case of Jonathan Caravello, a California State University Channel Islands professor, who was arrested and subsequently ordered to be released on a $15,000 bond.
- In the realm of General News, the Pentagon's decision to end the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles, previously accompanying federal agents during immigration enforcement operations, has added another layer of complexity, with the Justice Department appealing the order and seeking a stay.
