A 25-year-old disabled U.S. Army veteran who was taken into federal custody during last week’s controversial raid on a cannabis farm in Ventura County has been released without charges, according to the United Farm Workers Union.
George Retes, a U.S. citizen and security guard at Glass House Farms in Camarillo, was detained on Thursday, July 10, during a large-scale immigration enforcement action that drew protests and led to at least one death.
The union announced his release on Sunday night, saying Retes had spent more than three days in custody.
The United Farm Workers alleged that Retes was “wrongfully arrested” while attempting to drive away from the chaotic scene.
His family said they were unable to contact him for days and eventually located his abandoned vehicle, which had shattered windows and a lingering smell of chemical agents, the union stated in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter).
The United Farm Workers added that Retes and his family are “grateful for the widespread support” but have requested privacy and do not wish to speak with the press at this time.
As of Monday morning, no federal agency had publicly confirmed the circumstances of Retes’ detention or addressed the allegations made by his family and the union.