Army Veteran George Retes Detained, Silenced After ICE Raid

What happened to Army veteran George Retes Jr. is a disturbing example of how easily someone’s rights can be violated, even when they’ve worn the uniform and served this country. Retes, a U.S. citizen who fought in Iraq, was simply trying to get to work on July 10 when federal agents raided Glass House Farms in Camarillo. According to him, he was met not with questions, but force. “They pushed me to the ground. I could hardly breathe,” he recalled, describing how agents knelt on his back and neck before arresting him, jailing him for three days without charges, a phone call, or access to legal representation.

He was never accused of a crime—until he spoke out. After publishing an op-ed about his wrongful detention, the government shifted its narrative, suddenly claiming he “became violent” and was arrested for assault. Retes firmly denies this, saying he never resisted and believes he is being targeted for daring to tell the truth. “Stripped of my rights, treated like I didn’t belong… if it can happen to me, it can happen to any one of us,” he wrote, warning Americans that citizenship and military service are no shield when power goes unchecked.

The events were captured on video: Retes stepped out of his car, tried to explain he worked there, then returned to his vehicle as agents moved forward and launched tear gas. Inside his car, he could be heard pleading, “I’m trying to leave!” Moments later, his window was smashed, he was pepper-sprayed, dragged out, and pinned. He missed his daughter’s third birthday while jailed. When released, he received no apology—only suspension from work, costly repairs to his vehicle, and a fight for his name.

His attorney, Anya Bidwell, called the government’s timing revealing: “When people in this country stand up… this government responds with fury.” Rather than accountability, Retes says officials are “willing to… die on a hill of lying.”

Despite it all, he still believes in the ideals he served under. “I still believe justice can be restored,” he said. But his warning is clear: no one is safe when those meant to protect can detain, silence, and then rewrite the story. This is not just a personal injustice—it’s a warning about who could be next.

Link: LA Times