Democrats clash with ICE over characterization of marijuana farm raid

[Hans Blaster]

#2!

Owner of unique Phoenix taco bus arrested. What to know​

Audeves, 42, was charged by criminal complaint for Harboring of an Illegal Alien, Knowingly Employing Unauthorized Aliens, Improper Entry by an Alien and Alien in Possession of a Firearm, according to the United States Attorney’s Office District of Arizona.

Trump really is concerned there will be a taco truck on every corner.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Army vet calls for investigation after being detained for three days in ICE raid​

At a news conference Wednesday, Retes, who is 25 and the father of two children, said he had been on his way to his job as a security guard at Glass House farms on July 10 when “I got caught in the middle between protesters and [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] agents.”

Retes said he had worked at Glass House as a contractor for the security firm Securitas for seven months. He said he unwittingly headed straight into that melee as he drove down Laguna Road to report for his afternoon shift.

He did not get to work. Instead, he said, agents smashed his car window, pepper-sprayed him and dragged him out at gunpoint.

Retes, who served in Iraq, said agents never told him why he was being detained at the federal Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles. He was packed off, without a phone call, access to a lawyer, or even a way to clean the pepper-spray residue off his clothes and face, he said.

While in custody, Retes said, he became so distressed that he was put on suicide watch, but he was still not allowed to contact an attorney.

In a statement, officials at the Department of Homeland Security said: “George Retes was arrested and has been released. He has not been charged. The [U.S. attorney’s office] is reviewing his case, along with dozens of others, for potential federal charges related to the execution of the federal search warrant in Camarillo.”

 

[Hans Blaster]

Army vet calls for investigation after being detained for three days in ICE raid​

At a news conference Wednesday, Retes, who is 25 and the father of two children, said he had been on his way to his job as a security guard at Glass House farms on July 10 when “I got caught in the middle between protesters and [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] agents.”

Retes said he had worked at Glass House as a contractor for the security firm Securitas for seven months. He said he unwittingly headed straight into that melee as he drove down Laguna Road to report for his afternoon shift.

He did not get to work. Instead, he said, agents smashed his car window, pepper-sprayed him and dragged him out at gunpoint.

Retes, who served in Iraq, said agents never told him why he was being detained at the federal Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles. He was packed off, without a phone call, access to a lawyer, or even a way to clean the pepper-spray residue off his clothes and face, he said.

While in custody, Retes said, he became so distressed that he was put on suicide watch, but he was still not allowed to contact an attorney.

In a statement, officials at the Department of Homeland Security said: “George Retes was arrested and has been released. He has not been charged. The [U.S. attorney’s office] is reviewing his case, along with dozens of others, for potential federal charges related to the execution of the federal search warrant in Camarillo.”

DHS is going to blow their whole new mega budget on restitution for broken windows and illegal detentions. (Oh well.)

 

[GoldenBoy89]

Army vet calls for investigation after being detained for three days in ICE raid​

At a news conference Wednesday, Retes, who is 25 and the father of two children, said he had been on his way to his job as a security guard at Glass House farms on July 10 when “I got caught in the middle between protesters and [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] agents.”

Retes said he had worked at Glass House as a contractor for the security firm Securitas for seven months. He said he unwittingly headed straight into that melee as he drove down Laguna Road to report for his afternoon shift.

He did not get to work. Instead, he said, agents smashed his car window, pepper-sprayed him and dragged him out at gunpoint.

Retes, who served in Iraq, said agents never told him why he was being detained at the federal Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles. He was packed off, without a phone call, access to a lawyer, or even a way to clean the pepper-spray residue off his clothes and face, he said.

While in custody, Retes said, he became so distressed that he was put on suicide watch, but he was still not allowed to contact an attorney.

In a statement, officials at the Department of Homeland Security said: “George Retes was arrested and has been released. He has not been charged. The [U.S. attorney’s office] is reviewing his case, along with dozens of others, for potential federal charges related to the execution of the federal search warrant in Camarillo.”

Trump fans won’t care as long as they know undocumented folks are being treated the same way.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Detaining an American, disabled veteran.
Classy move ICE.

Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) are facing backlash over their responses to a reporter asking whether they “care if U.S. citizens accidentally get detained in [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] ICE raids.”

"No, I'm not concerned about that," Norman said in response to the question asked by a reporter on Capitol Hill Wednesday.

When Tuberville was asked the same question by the reporter, he said: "Well, first of all, don't put yourself in a situation where that happens." He went on to say that U.S. citizens should not be "hanging around with people who are not citizens of this country."

He continued: "Don't hang around illegals. Bottom line," adding that "something bad" can happen if American citizens are "in the wrong place at the wrong time."

I mean, being hit by a truck or struck by lightning, sure. But the government shouldn't be doing 'something bad' to citizens freely going about their own business.

 

[essentialsaltes]

DHS is going to blow their whole new mega budget on restitution for broken windows and illegal detentions. (Oh well.)

How much does art theft or copyright infringement cost?

Artist Blasts DHS For Using His Painting Without Permission—And They Even Tried To Change The Title​

Noem's office may have assumed [artist] Weistling would be sympathetic to the Trump administration's ... agenda because of the company he keeps.

Weistling licenses and sells his art through right wing anti-LGBTQ+, anti-reproductive freedom, pro-Christian nationalism Evangelical Christian "church," Focus on the Family.

But he doesn't give it away for free.

 

[Hans Blaster]

How much does art theft or copyright infringement cost?

Artist Blasts DHS For Using His Painting Without Permission—And They Even Tried To Change The Title​

Noem's office may have assumed [artist] Weistling would be sympathetic to the Trump administration's ... agenda because of the company he keeps.

Weistling licenses and sells his art through right wing anti-LGBTQ+, anti-reproductive freedom, pro-Christian nationalism Evangelical Christian "church," Focus on the Family.

But he doesn't give it away for free.

Add it to the DHS tab, and when they run out of money, disband them.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Army vet calls for investigation after being detained for three days in ICE raid​

At a news conference Wednesday, Retes, who is 25 and the father of two children, said he had been on his way to his job as a security guard at Glass House farms on July 10 when “I got caught in the middle between protesters and [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] agents.”

US Citizen and Army Veteran Submits Claims for Unconstitutional Immigration Detention​

Caught up in Southern California farm raid, Iraq War veteran George Retes was held for [3] days without charges, a hearing, access to an attorney, or the ability to contact his family.

Now, George has taken steps to sue the U.S. government under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) for his unconstitutional detention—by submitting claims to the federal agencies involved. George is represented by the Institute for Justice (IJ), a nonprofit public interest law firm that recently won an FTCA case at the U.S. Supreme Court.

“I’m calling out the federal government not just for what they did to me, but for what they are doing to others,” said George. “I’m continuing to fight for this country, now as a civilian.”

He was released with no apology and no charges.

The FTCA requires plaintiffs, before filing their claims in court, to first submit claims to the responsible federal agencies. Only once the federal agencies deny those claims, either expressly or implicitly by taking no action within six months, can a victim enter the courthouse door.

“Disappearing people for no reason violates the contract made between us and our government,” said IJ Senior Attorney Anya Bidwell. “Without accountability for horrible actions, our relationship with our government will remain broken. By choosing to fight in courts, George is doing his part in repairing this relationship. Just as he did his part when he served his country in Iraq.”

 

[essentialsaltes]

How much does art theft or copyright infringement cost?

Artist Blasts DHS For Using His Painting Without Permission—And They Even Tried To Change The Title​

Pokémon Company says Homeland Security's use of its property in disturbing promotional video was unauthorized, but DHS doesn't seem to care​

The first video, a montage of ICE agents and police blowing up doors and arresting people mashed up with music and video clips from the Pokémon TV show, was posted on the evening of September 22. It also features the words "Department of Homeland Security" spelled out in the Pokémon font.

A couple hours later, Customs and Border Protection got in on the act with an animated image of Pikachu, calling him "Border Patrol's newest recruit."

"We are aware of a recent video posted by the Department of Homeland Security that includes imagery and language associated with our brand," it said. "Our company was not involved in the creation or distribution of this content, and permission was not granted for the use of our intellectual property."

Nintendo, one of the owners of The Pokémon Company, is notoriously litigiouswhen it comes to dropping the hammer on people who can't effectively fight back. But former Pokémon Company chief legal officer Don McGowan thinks this is likely a fight it doesn't want: ... "many of their execs in the USA are on green cards."

 

[essentialsaltes]

Army vet calls for investigation after being detained for three days in ICE raid​

At a news conference Wednesday, Retes, who is 25 and the father of two children, said he had been on his way to his job as a security guard at Glass House farms on July 10 when “I got caught in the middle between protesters and [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] agents.”

A U.S. veteran spoke out against his wrongful arrest by ICE. Now he’s being accused of assault​

• ICE arrested Army veteran George Retes Jr. during a massive July raid at Glass House Farms in Camarillo, where he worked. He was jailed three days without charges.
• After Retes wrote an op-ed about his arrest, federal officials accused him of assault, an allegation he strongly denies.

President Trump’s Department of Homeland Security never charged Retes with a crime. But after he wrote an op-ed about his experience this month, DHS started issuing new accusations against him — saying he was arrested for assault during the raid, which the 25-year-old veteran has denied. Retes said he never resisted, and now is being targeted for retaliation because he spoke out about an arrest he sees as unlawful.

“My whole point in sharing my story, I’m trying to warn as many people as possible,” he said in an interview this week. “It doesn’t matter if you’re [politically] left, right, if you voted for Trump, hate him, love him, it doesn’t matter. This affects all of us.”

He has begun to take legal action to sue the U.S. government under the Federal Tort Claims Act.

US Citizen and Army Veteran Submits Claims for Unconstitutional Immigration Detention​

[After two months where he wasn't charged with anything and with no reason given for his arrest, suddenly a reason appears...]

A day after Retes’ opinion piece was published, the agency said Retes “became violent and refused to comply with law enforcement. He challenged agents and blocked their route by refusing to move his vehicle out of the road. CBP arrested Retes for assault.”

Anya Bidwell, his attorney and senior attorney at the Institute for Justice, said it is significant that the government chose to respond only after his piece was published.

“When people in this country stand up to this government, this government responds with fury,” Bidwell said. “They’re trying to impose their own version of reality. It’s so important for people like George to say, ‘I know who I am and I know what happened to me, you can’t just frame it as something that it’s not.’”

[Retes again] “I still believe justice can be restored — that’s why I’m standing up and speaking out,” he said. “I think it’s important now more than ever for us to be unified and standing up for our rights together. Especially when they have the audacity to try to lie, especially to the public.”

 

[iluvatar5150]

A U.S. veteran spoke out against his wrongful arrest by ICE. Now he’s being accused of assault​

• ICE arrested Army veteran George Retes Jr. during a massive July raid at Glass House Farms in Camarillo, where he worked. He was jailed three days without charges.
• After Retes wrote an op-ed about his arrest, federal officials accused him of assault, an allegation he strongly denies.

President Trump’s Department of Homeland Security never charged Retes with a crime. But after he wrote an op-ed about his experience this month, DHS started issuing new accusations against him — saying he was arrested for assault during the raid, which the 25-year-old veteran has denied. Retes said he never resisted, and now is being targeted for retaliation because he spoke out about an arrest he sees as unlawful.

“My whole point in sharing my story, I’m trying to warn as many people as possible,” he said in an interview this week. “It doesn’t matter if you’re [politically] left, right, if you voted for Trump, hate him, love him, it doesn’t matter. This affects all of us.”

He has begun to take legal action to sue the U.S. government under the Federal Tort Claims Act.


[After two months where he wasn't charged with anything and with no reason given for his arrest, suddenly a reason appears...]

A day after Retes’ opinion piece was published, the agency said Retes “became violent and refused to comply with law enforcement. He challenged agents and blocked their route by refusing to move his vehicle out of the road. CBP arrested Retes for assault.”

View attachment 370668
Anya Bidwell, his attorney and senior attorney at the Institute for Justice, said it is significant that the government chose to respond only after his piece was published.

“When people in this country stand up to this government, this government responds with fury,” Bidwell said. “They’re trying to impose their own version of reality. It’s so important for people like George to say, ‘I know who I am and I know what happened to me, you can’t just frame it as something that it’s not.’”

[Retes again] “I still believe justice can be restored — that’s why I’m standing up and speaking out,” he said. “I think it’s important now more than ever for us to be unified and standing up for our rights together. Especially when they have the audacity to try to lie, especially to the public.”

I'm so glad we elected the guys who stand for free speech and against lawfare.

 

[essentialsaltes]

A U.S. veteran spoke out against his wrongful arrest by ICE. Now he’s being accused of assault​

• ICE arrested Army veteran George Retes Jr. during a massive July raid at Glass House Farms in Camarillo, where he worked. He was jailed three days without charges.

Ignoring evidence, Kristi Noem says no citizens have been detained by immigration agents​

Noem’s comments might’ve appeared encouraging to those who don’t know better, but there’s ample evidence to suggest she was lying.

The Chicago-Sun Times reported:

Despite evidence to the contrary, Noem ... said, ‘There’s no American citizens that have been arrested or detained. We focus on those that are here illegally. And anything that you would hear or report that would be different than that is simply not true.’

After making the comments, the South Dakota Republican promptly ended the event, allowing for no follow-up questions.

According to the ProPublica tally published two weeks ago (which has not been independently verified by MSNBC), more than 170 American citizens had been held against their will because federal agents, acting at Donald Trump’s behest, suspected them of being undocumented immigrants.

“Among the citizens detained are nearly 20 children, including two with cancer,” the report added, while acknowledging that this tally “is almost certainly incomplete.”

A week later, The Washington Post’s George Will, a longtime conservative, devoted a column to George Retes, a U.S. citizen and disabled combat veteran who was abused by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and detained for three days without access to an attorney.

 

[Fantine]

She learned to lie from an expert.
Lie, cut and run.
My daughter learned an old boyfriend was detained overnight by ICE. He was in Texas and his parents had to fax his papers before they let him go.
So I know it's true.
I suppose if I were plumped up on Botox I could lie easily too. I'm honest and my expressions reflect that.

 

[Valletta]

"A week later, The Washington Post’s George Will, a longtime conservative, devoted a column to George Retes, a U.S. citizen and disabled combat veteran who was abused by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and detained for three days without access to an attorney."

George Will pretends to be a conservative. I'm a conservative, and I can't remember the last time I agreed with a George Will column. I am prevented from reading his Washington Post column by a pay wall, but the case of George Reyes has been addressed by DHS:

FALSE CLAIM: George Retes was wrongly arrested and held by ICE.
THE FACTS: As U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and ICE agents were executing criminal search warrants on July 10 at the marijuana sites in Camarillo, CA, George Retes—a U.S. citizen—became violent and refused to comply with law enforcement. He challenged agents and blocked their route by refusing to move his vehicle out of the road. CBP arrested Retes for assault.

DHS Debunks New York Times False Reporting: DHS Does NOT Deport U.S. Citizens | Homeland Security

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today sets the record straight, again, about the New York Times false and misleading report alleging DHS is targeting U.S. citizens during targeted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.

www.dhs.gov

 

[essentialsaltes]

FALSE CLAIM: George Retes was wrongly arrested and held by ICE.
THE FACTS: As U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and ICE agents were executing criminal search warrants on July 10 at the marijuana sites in Camarillo, CA, George Retes—a U.S. citizen—became violent and refused to comply with law enforcement. He challenged agents and blocked their route by refusing to move his vehicle out of the road. CBP arrested Retes for assault.

A U.S. veteran spoke out against his wrongful arrest by ICE. Now he’s being accused of assault​

• ICE arrested Army veteran George Retes Jr. during a massive July raid at Glass House Farms in Camarillo, where he worked. He was jailed three days without charges.
• After Retes wrote an op-ed about his arrest [two months later!] federal officials accused him of assault, an allegation he strongly denies.

 

[Valletta]

Another pay wall.

 

[iluvatar5150]

George Will pretends to be a conservative. I'm a conservative, and I can't remember the last time I agreed with a George Will column.

“Right-wing” != “conservative”.

 

[BPPLEE]

If Rete's story is true he should have a good civil case, what he alleges happened is a violation of his rights

 

[essentialsaltes]

Ignoring evidence, Kristi Noem says no citizens have been detained by immigration agents​

Noem’s comments might’ve appeared encouraging to those who don’t know better, but there’s ample evidence to suggest she was lying.

US Citizen Dragged From Car by Border Patrol in Chicago​

Dayanne Figueroa, a U.S. citizen and paralegal, said an unmarked government vehicle struck her car at the 1600 block of West Hubbard Street in Chicago on the morning of October 10, while she was on her way to get coffee before going to work.

"I was in shock and terrified," Figueroa told Newsweek. "Instead of handling the situation as a routine traffic incident, the masked agents, armed in hands, forcibly removed me from my car without questions and without informing me that I was under arrest."

Footage obtained by Newsweek appears to show armed federal agents detaining Figueroa, dragging her by the legs to remove her from her vehicle. Some agents brandish guns, and bystanders can be heard shouting, "You hit her," as the situation unfolds.

"You guys are [doggone] scumbags, [doggone] [brand name authoritarians]. They hit her car. You guys hit her, and you [doggone] know it," the bystander is heard saying.

The paralegal said she was transported to multiple undisclosed locations and was not allowed to contact her family or legal counsel. She said she was never charged with a crime or informed of a legal reason for her detention.

"In fear of public safety and of law enforcement, officers attempted to remove her from the vehicle. She violently resisted, kicking two agents and causing injuries. This agitator was arrested for assault on a federal agent," [DHS spox] McLaughlin added.

 

[BPPLEE]

US Citizen Dragged From Car by Border Patrol in Chicago​

Dayanne Figueroa, a U.S. citizen and paralegal, said an unmarked government vehicle struck her car at the 1600 block of West Hubbard Street in Chicago on the morning of October 10, while she was on her way to get coffee before going to work.

"I was in shock and terrified," Figueroa told Newsweek. "Instead of handling the situation as a routine traffic incident, the masked agents, armed in hands, forcibly removed me from my car without questions and without informing me that I was under arrest."

Footage obtained by Newsweek appears to show armed federal agents detaining Figueroa, dragging her by the legs to remove her from her vehicle. Some agents brandish guns, and bystanders can be heard shouting, "You hit her," as the situation unfolds.

"You guys are [doggone] scumbags, [doggone] [brand name authoritarians]. They hit her car. You guys hit her, and you [doggone] know it," the bystander is heard saying.

The paralegal said she was transported to multiple undisclosed locations and was not allowed to contact her family or legal counsel. She said she was never charged with a crime or informed of a legal reason for her detention.

"In fear of public safety and of law enforcement, officers attempted to remove her from the vehicle. She violently resisted, kicking two agents and causing injuries. This agitator was arrested for assault on a federal agent," [DHS spox] McLaughlin added.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told Newsweek that Border Patrol was making a targeted arrest when Figueroa's vehicle blocked agents and struck an unmarked government vehicle.