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United States citizens being mistakenly ensnared by immigration enforcement came into sharp focus with the case of a U.S. Army veteran who was not only wrongfully detained but allegedly assaulted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. This incident has ignited fresh outrage and intensified calls for systemic reform within the agency, highlighting the profound personal cost when identification and due process protocols fail those who have served the nation.
One of many unacceptable cases is that of George Retes. In July 2025, the Army veteran found himself in a harrowing situation during an immigration raid in California. According to extensive reporting by CBS News, Retes was apprehended in what he describes as a chaotic and violent encounter. He alleges that agents approached his vehicle aggressively, ignoring his attempts to communicate.
"They just came at me, yelling in Spanish," Retes recounted to CBS News in a widely circulated interview. "They tear-gassed me, smashed my car window. I told them I was a U.S. citizen, a veteran, but they wouldn't listen."
His pleas were reportedly disregarded, and he was taken into custody. For several days, Retes was held in detention, his status as a U.S. citizen and decorated veteran seemingly irrelevant. It was only after his case gained media attention and verification was finally completed that he was released. The incident left him shaken and questioning the very system he had sworn to defend.
The Retes case is particularly alarming because it combines the injustice of wrongful detention with allegations of excessive force. For civil liberties advocates, it serves as stark evidence of deep-seated problems within ICE's field operations. They argue that such a severe breakdown, where a citizen’s claims are dismissed and met with aggression, points to a critical need for improved training, de-escalation tactics, and, most importantly, robust and immediate citizenship verification protocols.
In the wake of the incident, veterans' groups and civil rights organizations have demanded a full investigation into the actions of the agents involved. They are pressing for greater transparency from ICE and the Department of Homeland Security regarding how often U.S. citizens are detained and what measures are being taken to prevent future errors. The core of their argument is that no citizen, let alone a veteran, should have to endure such an ordeal to prove their right to be in their own country. Even if this wasn’t an egregious abuse of authority and morally bankrupt on the part of the alleged agents, what is the end state this action truly causes? And aren’t there real threats law enforcement could focus on?
The psychological toll on individuals like George Retes is immeasurable. The experience of being treated as an illegal threat by one's own government can foster a profound sense of betrayal and alienation, which can be especially damaging for veterans who may already be coping with the challenges of transitioning to civilian life.
While ICE maintains that its mission is to target non-citizens who pose a threat, the Retes case in 2025 stands as a powerful and troubling counter-narrative. It underscores the potential for devastating human error within a vast enforcement system and has renewed a critical, national conversation about accountability, justice, and the fundamental duty of the government to protect its own citizens.
