This is one of the most harrowing tales that I have heard in my entire life. There really is a war against Hispanics in this country. Why oh why any Hispanic man or woman would vote Republican after this is beyond me. But for those Hispanics who did vote for Trump in 2024, this is the hell fire that you have brought down upon your ethnic group. This man is George Retes, born in Ventura, California and an army veteran who served in Iraq. He was abducted by ICE (and I say “abducted” because no charges were filed) and held in custody without explanation or the right to contact anybody for three days. This is his story.
"They put me on suicide watch and they put me in the cell, I'm naked, in like a hospital dress and just a concrete bed with like a mattress, like a thin mattress and, they leave the light on 24/7, there's a glass door, and officers just always standing, like sitting out there,… pic.twitter.com/Zxi39Fog5s
— The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) October 10, 2025
This clip raises as many questions as it answers. So read Mr. Retes’ full story here.
Civil rights in America have always been about one thing: holding power accountable when it strips people of their dignity and freedom. They are not privileges that government agents get to decide whether to honor. What happened to me wasn’t just a mistake—it was a violation of the very protections that our Constitution guarantees.
On July 10, I was on my way to work when ICE agents engulfed my car in tear gas, smashed my driver-side window, and pepper-sprayed my face. They dragged me out, threw me to the ground, and even while I was complying, one agent kneeled on my neck and another kneeled on my back as others stood by and watched.
I spent three nights and three days in federal custody. During that time, I was never told what I was charged with, was not allowed to shower despite being covered in tear gas and pepper spray, had no phone call to my family, and no access to an attorney. I was placed on suicide watch and missed my daughter’s third birthday. No explanation. No charges. No apology. One day, I was just told, “you’re free to go.”
For me as a veteran, this is more than just a personal injustice—it’s a constitutional affront. We are taught that America stands apart because of its rule of law and protection of rights. If the government can strip those rights from us without consequence, it undermines the very system we claim makes our country stand apart.
As of now, I have submitted claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) to federal agencies related to my wrongful detention by federal officers. These claims describe my unlawful detention, including the officers’ use of excessive force, the denial of a hearing with a judge, the denial of access to legal counsel and any other contact with the outside world, and the denial of basic necessities.
While the claims are under review by the relevant federal authorities, I am continuing to speak out. I do it for two reasons. First, because I believe that Americans of all ideological stripes would agree that the government can’t just make people disappear without any process or explanation. Second, because I want to give the government a chance to admit that they were wrong.
So far the government has not done so. Instead, in response to an op-ed I published in the San Francisco Chronicle, DHS claimed that during the July 10 operation in Camarillo, CA, I “became violent and refused to comply with law enforcement,” blocked their route, and was arrested for assault. They stated that US citizens are not being “wrongfully” arrested by ICE, that their enforcement operations are highly targeted, and that their personnel conduct due diligence to know who they are targeting. DHS also framed criticisms of the operation as “smears” against ICE officers, alleging such claims have contributed to an increase in assaults on law enforcement.
DHS’s statement ignores reality and is designed to demonize and villainize people who don’t let the government trample over their rights, and aren’t afraid to speak the truth. First, I was not violent, I simply asked the officers to let me pass through because I needed to get to work; and I also complied with ICE’s demands by backing up my car. Second, the statement ignores the three days I spent in federal custody with no charges, no phone call to my family, no access to a judge or an attorney, no shower, and no explanation for their actions. It is deeply troubling that a government agency would publicly deny these facts while portraying my experience as a threat or attack on officers. The truth is that I am a US citizen and a veteran, and I will continue to pursue accountability for the rights that were violated that day.
This fight is not just about my case—it’s about ensuring that there is recourse when people are silenced, detained, or dehumanized by the very government meant to protect us. The legal system must allow accountability when government agencies overstep their authority.
Incidents like this are proof that civil rights protections in America are only as strong as our willingness to enforce them. What happens when government agencies act as though the Constitution doesn’t apply to them? Agencies like ICE cannot be allowed to operate in the shadows, unchecked and unaccountable. Civil rights mean nothing if those in power face no consequences for violating them. Accountability is the only way forward.
A few days ago we did a piece here where a reporter asked Trump, “Are you going to suspend habeas corpus?” and El Genius replied, “Suspend who?” Trump then said, “I’m going to let Kristi (Noem) decide.” Evidently Kristi has decided. Habeas corpus is the concept that the government can’t do to people what this government did to Mr. Retes. If he was arrested, charged, given his basic civil rights of contacting a lawyer, all that, there would be no story here, except maybe ICE jumping the gun once again.
This is terrifying. This is the second time today that we’ve run a story about a California-born man, an Hispanic, doing nothing but getting roughed up by ICE for the “crime” of being Hispanic.
And if ICE is doing this to American citizens I shudder to think what they are doing to actual illegals.
Most likely they are mistreating everybody. If anyone thinks they will stop at immigrants, guess again.
Yes, what ARE they doing to “actual illegals,” who must be afforded the same rights that Mr. Retes was denied. We are so far past the mark into authoritarianism, it’s just unbelievable. I cringed when Mr. Retes said he filed reports with “federal agencies.” I had a vision of Pam Blondie and Cash Pathetic and ICE Barbie cackling as they ripped up all the paperwork from these totally innocent people who got sucked up in their sick scheme of destroying the Rule if Law, the rights this nation has fought and died to preserve, and the bedrock values upon which this beautiful nation was founded.
First they came for the trade unionists…but I was not a union member…and so on down the line.