A US army veteran has filed a lawsuit against the federal government after being detained for three days by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in California without access to his family, a lawyer, or information about the charges against him.
George Retes, a 26-year-old US citizen, was arrested on 10 July while driving to his job as a security guard at a farm in Ventura County. During an ICE raid, agents shattered his car window, removed him from the vehicle, and detained him without checking his identification. He was later held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles without a clear explanation.
The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday with the help of the non-profit Institute for Justice, argues that Retes's detention was unconstitutional. In an op-ed for the San Francisco Chronicle, Retes said he missed his daughter's third birthday party and was released without charges, explanation, or apology.
The suit names the United States government, ICE, Customs and Border Protection, the US Navy, and the FBI as defendants. Andrew Wimer, director of media relations at the Institute for Justice, acknowledged the legal challenges, noting that the Supreme Court has narrowed the ability to sue federal officials. He said the firm expects the government to claim immunities and attempt to dismiss the case, but is prepared for a years-long fight.
Retes's case adds to growing concerns about arrests of military veterans by federal agents, with multiple cases reported in recent months.
