Dear U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett:
I have written to you several times over the past month about U.S. citizen and veteran George Retes without receiving any response.
Why did ICE allegedly “arrest” Retes on July 10 at Glass House Farms in Camarillo, CA, keep him in custody without charges, legal counsel or a phone call, and release him on July 13 with no charges and no explanation? In reality, he was abducted: federal agents dressed like HAMAS or ISIS terrorists in military-style gear with face masks surrounded his car, broke his window, pepper-sprayed him and dragged him out.
Retes repeatedly told them he’s a U.S. citizen. He was born in Ventura City, CA. He is a disabled U.S. Army veteran who was deployed to Iraq. He has no police record. This is a violation of his civil rights and the U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights. “No person shall …. be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law…” 5th Amendment to the US Constitution.
What are you doing to protect a U.S. citizen and fellow veteran (and others) from human rights abuses under Homeland Security?
The Rev. Vilius Rudra Dundzila
Former U.S.A.F. AUX/CAP Chaplain, honorary rank of major
Brighton
I have also left messages at Mr. Barrett’s office and received no response. I took the same oath to defend the constitution that Mr. Barrett took when I joined the Army, he has clearly forgotten his responsibility to the constitution.
I do not care if you are a republican or a democrat, these actions should outrage every American. We are not Russia or China. America has been a light to the world because of its freedoms. Mr. Barrett’s lack of response to these violations show how Republicans have lost their backbone and become complicit in trampling the constitution.
Thank you, Reverend, for your letter to Representative Tom Barrett. I have tried to contact Representative Barrett multiple times and have not received a response to my concerns that include these very serious violations that you described in your letter so well. The representative is clearly unresponsive and the policies that he has supported have been quite harmful to his constituents, and he won’t explain his actions. I appreciate you bringing this to the attention of our community!