A 25-year-old U.S. citizen and Army veteran working as a security guard at a cannabis farm in California said on Wednesday (July 16) that he was wrongfully arrested and detained for three days during an immigration raid last week. George Retes said he was violently apprehended by federal agents during a raid in Camarillo, around 80 km northwest of Los Angeles. He claimed officers smashed his car window, damaged his vehicle, and sprayed him with tear gas despite him identifying himself as a U.S. citizen and employee at the site. The raid took place amid protests from local residents opposing immigration crackdowns.

Retes said he was never told what charges he faced and was held until Sunday without explanation. He was eventually taken to a detention center in downtown Los Angeles. During the arrest, Retes said multiple officers forcefully restrained him, even though he was already cooperating and had been sprayed with oleoresin capsicum (OC).

The incident occurred as part of a broader immigration enforcement push initiated by the Trump administration in June. Activists and rights organizations have raised concerns that such raids have at times mistakenly targeted U.S. citizens and legal residents. Tricia McLaughlin, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, confirmed Retes was arrested and released without any charges. She said the U.S. Attorney’s Office is reviewing his case along with others for possible federal charges connected to the execution of the raid.

Retes, who works for a private security firm hired by the Glass House cannabis facility, said his detention caused him to miss his daughter’s third birthday and that he intends to sue the federal government. “No one should be treated like this — regardless of immigration status or skin color,” he said. “I hope no one else has to go through what I did.”