On July 10, a 25-year-old U.S. citizen and Army veteran was on his way to work as a security guard at a cannabis farm in Camarillo, Ventura County, California. He never expected that his day would take a drastic turn. As he approached the farm, he noticed traffic piling up with cars stuck bumper-to-bumper. Protesters were walking along the sides of the street. He soon saw masked federal immigration agents blocking the road.
A terrifying encounter with immigration officers
He tried to explain that he was a U.S. citizen, a father of two, and an Army veteran who had served in Iraq. But the immigration agents didn’t seem to care. Their focus wasn’t on his identity or service record but on blocking his way.
As a contract worker, missing his job meant losing his paycheck. He got out of his car and tried to explain again. The immigration officers ignored him. When they started walking toward him, he got back inside his car to avoid confrontation.
The situation worsened when immigration agents began using tear gas to disperse the nearby protesters. The gas filled his car, making it difficult to breathe. He panicked but still tried to comply with the officers’ orders. However, they gave contradictory instructions like “pull over to the side” and “reverse” while also trying to open his car door.
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Before he could react, an immigration agent smashed his window and sprayed pepper spray into the car. He was dragged out, and one agent knelt on his neck while another pinned his back. Despite holding valid identification in his wallet inside the car, the officers refused to check and confirm his citizenship.
He was zip-tied and made to sit in the dirt with other detainees for four hours. He overheard immigration agents questioning why he had been arrested but received no answers. After that, he was thrown into a jail cell without charges or explanations.
Inhumane conditions in immigration detention
His first night in jail was unbearable. His hands, coated with tear gas and pepper spray, burned constantly because he wasn’t allowed to wash them off. Over the next three nights and days, he remained locked up without being allowed to make a phone call or speak to a lawyer.
He missed his daughter’s third birthday. Still, no explanation or apology was offered. After three days, he was released with no charges against him. He was simply let go, with immigration officials providing only a vague statement about cases being reviewed for “potential federal charges.”
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This ordeal shook him deeply. He served his country wearing the military uniform, standing watch in dangerous conditions abroad. He believed in the values of fairness, respect, and dignity that are supposed to be guaranteed to every citizen in America.
However, despite proving his citizenship and military service, he was stripped of his rights. He was treated like an intruder, forcibly detained and isolated without cause.
The broader warning: This could happen to anyone
The Supreme Court recently allowed immigration enforcement officers to continue their aggressive tactics in California. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, in his opinion, wrote that citizens or lawful residents would be free to go after brief encounters with immigration agents.
But this veteran’s experience shows the opposite. The officers didn’t check his documents when it would have taken only two minutes. Instead, they arrested him based on where he worked and his appearance.
This is not an issue about political sides or voting patterns. It’s about basic rights. If a U.S. citizen can be detained by immigration agents, silenced, and dehumanized despite holding valid identification, then anyone could be next.
This veteran’s experience has now become a warning signal. He is taking legal action with the help of the Institute for Justice under the Federal Torts Claim Act. However, he must wait six months before filing a lawsuit.
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He stresses that justice should not be restricted to one group or one viewpoint—it must be accessible and fair for all.
His case highlights how immigration enforcement policies, without proper checks, can strip citizens of their dignity and rights. It raises important questions about oversight, accountability, and fairness in immigration enforcement.
This is not just one person’s story—it’s a cautionary tale that underscores the importance of protecting every citizen from wrongful treatment by immigration authorities.