ON THE GROUND— Photographs included in George Retes Jr.’s lawsuit against the federal government show him being subdued during the July 10, 2025, immigration raid at Glass House Farms. George Retes Jr. survived a combat tour in Iraq, but he says nothing prepared him for the three days he spent in federal custody last summer—shackled, pepper sprayed, and held incommunicado while his family frantically searched for him. On Feb. 18, Retes, a 26-year-old U.S. Army veteran, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the United States and several federal agencies. The comVet plaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, alleges a harrowing series of constitutional violations stemming from the July 2025 Glass House Farms cannabis facility immigration raid outside Camarillo. According to the filing, the ordeal began on July 10, 2025, as Retes was driving to his job as a security guard at Glass House Farms. He was wearing his favorite Army sweatshirt and driving a car adorned with “Iraq Combat Veteran” decals and “Disabled Veteran” license plates. Unbeknownst to him, federal agents from ICE, CBP and the FBI were conducting a raid at the farm— and the Iraq veteran suddenly found himself in the middle of the chaos. The lawsuit alleges that despite Retes’ compliance, the situation escalated into “state-sponsored violence.” Officers allegedly gave conflicting commands before engulfing Retes’ car in tear gas and pepper spray. He was then dragged from the car and thrown to the ground. The most striking allegations involve Retes’ subsequent 72-hour detention, during which he was denied legal counsel, a phone call, and medical care. Prior to the filing of the lawsuit, Retes appeared before House and Senate oversight committees to share his story directly with lawmakers. Addressing ranking members Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Robert Garcia, both Democrats, Retes emphasized that his presence was a matter of national principle. “I’m here today not to reopen old wounds, but as a veteran, a father and an ordinary person who still believes in the promise of this country and the values represented by our flag,” Retes testified. “I respect law enforcement. I respect the men and women who serve. But I also believe that accountability is not the enemy of respect—it is its foundation.” Retes recounted the moments his vehicle was swarmed by ICE agents on the road to the farm: “I identified myself as a U.S. citizen and a veteran, but that didn’t matter. Agents smashed my window, sprayed tear gas and pepper spray into my car and dragged me out. I was choking on gas, unable to breathe, while officers shouted conflicting commands.” Soon officers pinned him down: “One kneeling on my back and another kneeling on my neck, while my hands were already behind me,” Retes said. The veteran’s testimony grew more somber as he described the conditions of his detention, specifically his time on suicide watch. “Suicide watch is a yellow concrete room with a concrete bed and a thin mattress. The lights stay on 24/7. You’re stripped naked and put in a hospital gown. A guard watches you constantly. I remained in those conditions from Friday morning until the moment I was released. My family had no idea where I was. I was released without explanation and without a single charge.” The lawsuit, supported by the Institute for Justice and Michel & Associates, brings eight counts against the government. For Retes, the legal battle is not just about personal restitution, but about closing the legal loopholes that protect federal agents from the same scrutiny faced by local police. In his closing remarks to the committees, Retes highlighted the disparity in the law: “That entire experience violated the very principles I fought to defend. And here’s the truth: it happened because of a gap in the law that allowed it. If these had been state or local officers, I could take them to court right now and demand answers. But because they were federal agents, they are shielded by a blanket immunity.” He concluded with a plea for the future of civil liberties. “I still believe in the flag. I still believe in the ideals that make this country worth fighting for. But belief alone is not enough. We need action. We need accountability. And we need laws that reflect the values we say we stand for.” The federal government has yet to issue a formal response to the lawsuit. Meanwhile, the testimony has sparked renewed debate in Washington over federal immunity and the oversight of federal immigration enforcement operations.