A faculty group at California State University–Channel Islands is demanding the immediate release of professor Jonathan Anthony Caravello, who was detained by federal agents during a July 10 protest at a cannabis farm in Camarillo, California. Witnesses say Caravello was helping a disabled protester when masked agents in an unmarked vehicle allegedly took him without identifying themselves or providing medical assistance.
Federal authorities confirmed Caravello was arrested and faces charges under 18 U.S.C. 111 for allegedly throwing a tear gas canister at law enforcement. CSU officials have called for transparency and due process, stating that while they do not endorse illegal activity, they support the rights of faculty to engage in peaceful protest.
The California Faculty Association claims the tactics used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement amounted to an abduction and created fear on campus. Union leaders are also demanding the release of nearly 100 others detained in related federal raids. SEIU California joined the calls, accusing ICE of escalating heavy-handed enforcement in recent weeks.
This situation highlights growing tensions between federal authorities and academic communities over protests, civil disobedience, and immigration enforcement. Faculty argue that secretive arrests and unmarked vehicles undermine public trust and stifle free expression, while federal officials maintain that their actions followed legal protocols.
