Washington, Feb. 23 -- Rep. Mark Takano issued the following press release:
Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) announced that he is inviting George Retes to be his guest at the State of the Union.
George Retes is a 26-year-old U.S. citizen and disabled U.S. Army veteran whose service included a deployment to Iraq before he transitioned into civilian life as a security guard in his native Ventura County, California.
In July 2025, during a large-scale federal immigration raid, George-while commuting to work-was stopped by ICE agents who broke his car window. He was subsequently pepper-sprayed, pinned down with officers kneeling on his back and neck, and detained for three days without charges, ac...