#^ICE Raid Mistake: American Vet Jailed for Days



George Retes, Jr. is a native Californian who enlisted in the Army while a young man, serving his country in Iraq. Wanting to see his kids grow up, he was honorably discharged and got a job as a security contractor in Ventura County, California.

In July 2025, George was on his way to his job site at a state-legal cannabis farm. As he approached the farm, he saw cars parked along the road and people standing around. Eventually he came to a line of immigration agents blocking the road.

He exited his car and asked the agents if he could get by so he could get to his job, but they refused to let him pass. He moved his car to let a group of armored cars and buses pass, but soon after officers deployed tear gas all around his car.

Officers approached his car, giving contradictory orders. In a moment, George’s window broke from agents constantly pushing on it. He was pepper-sprayed and dragged out of the car. George allowed the agents to apprehend him, relying on his Army training to remain calm. One agent put his knee on George’s neck. The other agent put his knee on George’s back. Once they tied George’s hands behind his back, the agents took George into custody, beginning an ordeal that would last for more than 72 hours.

George was held first on the farm, where he was separated from other detainees who were not citizens. He was then taken to a navy base, where the agents took his fingerprints, and his DNA. George was then moved to a detention center in Los Angeles. For the first day, he was not allowed to shower despite hurting from the pepper spray and tear gas covering his body. That first night he spent in absolute agony. He felt on fire.

The next morning, after a psychological exam, he was placed on suicide watch and held in isolation. Despite his repeated requests, George was not allowed to contact an attorney. When he was finally released, the government pressed no criminal charges and never told him why he had been detained. He missed his daughter’s third birthday celebration.

Now George has teamed up with the Institute for Justice and taken steps to sue the federal government under the Federal Tort Claims Act.
#video #IJ

Cargo ship with Freycinet gauge. It is moving south on the Amsterdam-Rhijn kanaal, the canal linking the river #IJ to the Rhine and then, the Ruhr region. #boat #canal #Amsterdam I called this photo Carpe Diem.

#^Victory! Court Blocks Eminent Domain Land Grab



#video #IJ #eminent_domain

#^George Retes on His 3 Day ICE Detention



George Retes, a U.S. citizen and Iraq War veteran, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies for three days and three nights.

George was never charged with a crime.

Now, he 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.
#video #IJ

#^$95,000 Plane SEIZED Over a 6-Pack of Beer



In 2012, Alaska bush pilot Ken Jouppi was preparing for a routine flight when troopers found beer hidden in his passenger’s luggage. The alcohol was banned in the destination village—but Ken didn’t know it was there. He was charged with a misdemeanor and convicted.

But the state wasn’t done with him yet.

The State of Alaska then spent thirteen years trying to take his $95,000 airplane—all over a six-pack of Budweiser. In 2024, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled the state could do just that.

Now, Ken and the Institute for Justice are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to step in and say enough is enough.
#video #IJ

#amsterdam #IJ#noordzeekanaal #nightsky