US Citizen and Army Veteran Detained for 3 Days After Immigration Raid

Detained During Immigration Raid

• 🇺🇸 George Retes Jr., a U.S. citizen and Army veteran, was detained by federal immigration agents during a raid on a California cannabis farm.
• 🚗 Retes was attempting to go to work legally when agents surrounded his car, pepper-sprayed him, and arrested him.

Lack of Explanation and Rights

• ⛓️ Retes was held for three days at the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles without any charges being filed.
• ⚖️ He stated he had no access to an attorney and was not allowed to make any calls during his detention.
• 🚿 He also reported being denied a shower despite being covered in pepper spray and tear gas.

Missed Family Milestones

• 💔 Retes missed his three-year-old daughter's birthday party, an event he had been planning for weeks.
• 😔 He expressed the profound difficulty and regret of not being present for such a significant family moment.

Emotional and Psychological Impact

• 😥 Retes revealed he was placed on suicide watch due to the stress and trauma of the situation.
• 🤯 He continues to struggle to comprehend the events and the way he was treated.

Reflections on Treatment

• 🎖️ Despite being a veteran, Retes stated that his service should not have mattered; he believes no one, regardless of citizenship or background, should be treated in such a manner.
• 😠 He feels he was treated poorly without justification, possibly due to the officers' emotions.