A California State University Channel Islands professor has been indicted on felony charges for allegedly assaulting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers during a July protest in Camarillo. Federal prosecutors say Jonathan Anthony Caravello threw a tear gas canister at agents during a raid on a cannabis farm, escalating what began as a large-scale immigration enforcement operation into a violent confrontation.
Caravello, a 37-year-old lecturer in mathematics and philosophy, initially faced misdemeanor charges. A federal grand jury has now elevated those charges to felony assault on a federal officer, a crime that carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. He was released on a $15,000 bond and is awaiting arraignment. The indictment cites 18 U.S. Code § 111, which criminalizes physical attacks against federal officers performing their duties.
According to prosecutors, protesters attempted to block ICE agents during the July 10 raid, using both their bodies and vehicles to interfere. Agents deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd. Caravello allegedly retrieved one of the canisters and hurled it back at officers. Witnesses say he then left the scene, changed clothes, and returned. Supporters dispute this account, claiming Caravello was only trying to move a canister away from a disabled protester in a wheelchair.
The case has sparked controversy within the university community. Colleagues and activist groups describe Caravello as a peaceful protester and accuse federal authorities of excessive prosecution. The university itself has issued no direct comment, saying only that it will respect the ongoing legal process. Federal prosecutors, however, insist the professor’s actions amounted to an assault on law enforcement officers carrying out their lawful duties.
The indictment underscores the rising tensions between immigration enforcement operations and activist groups across California. While defenders frame the case as an issue of free speech and protest rights, federal officials argue that violence against officers cannot be excused under the banner of activism.
