John Caravello ph.d. is a mathematics and philosophy professor at California State University Channel Islands. He quickly found himself at the center of controversy after he was arrested while protesting an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid on the Glass House cannabis farm in Camarillo. The moment came after Caravello had teamed up with a cadre of agitators face to face with immigration officers on the ground. He was subsequently arrested in July and charged with throwing a law enforcement teargas canister. As we outlined in a report released last year, witnesses have repeatedly disputed this claim.
Though he was released from custody on a $15,000 bond on Monday, Caravello continues to face a long legal battle ahead. Our former president, Donald Trump, is set to be arraigned on August 1. The incident ignited a firestorm of debate on social media around the right to protest. It also underscored critical questions about law enforcement’s actions during the raid.
On July 26, Caravello joined the demonstration. To him, it was a vigorous expression of his First Amendment rights. This demonstration was intended both to protest the federal government’s aggressive crackdown on immigrant-owned cannabis farms and to stand up for immigrants’ rights. Witnesses corroborating Caravello’s account, including fellow protester Genevieve Flores-Haro, have come forward to testify on his behalf and challenge the charges he faces.
“The only teargas canisters that I saw thrown were by ICE agents and the National Guard,” – Flores-Haro.
Flores-Haro characterized Caravello’s actions as peaceful. She remembered in particular that when he was arrested, he was assisting another activist in a wheelchair. A diverse range of ideological supporters have already flocked to Caravello’s side, highlighting his dedication to social justice and community-focused work.
Supporters of Caravello highlighted his contributions to the community, with one stating, “John Caravello, you deserve a medal for standing up for the community.” However, he does not stop at attending the march. He is a dedicated member of the VC Defensa: an immigrant and refugee community defense coalition that bravely stands guard to protect indigenous, immigrant, and refugee communities.
Bill Essayli, an attorney representing law enforcement’s perspective, affirmed that Caravello faced serious allegations, including “throwing a teargas canister at law enforcement.” This claim is completely contradicted by the accounts of at least two people who were actually at the protest on these dates.
“John is not guilty, and we have witnesses to attest to that. He’s a seasoned organizer. He would never throw anything at a federal agent,” – Theresa Montaño, a colleague and activist.
Montano went on to elaborate on Caravello’s work inside labor unions and activist networks, highlighting his commitment to supporting the struggles of marginalized communities. Beyond his research career, Caravello has been a vocal and visible advocate for tenant rights and immigrant protections.
Context around the protest has led to broader questions about law enforcement and militarized responses to civil opposition. Flores-Haro criticized the aggressive tactics employed during the encounter, stating, “There may have been a few people acting out, but it did not merit this show of force. I’m an American citizen. I was born here. I’m a taxpayer; my taxpayer dollars were used by the federal government to shoot at me.”
In response to these developments, California State University Channel Islands released a statement deploring Caravello’s plight. The university highlighted its desire to understand the full context of the incident and doubled down on the importance of the right to protest.
“We are currently gathering additional information to fully understand the circumstances of the incident. At this time, it is our understanding that Professor Caravello was peacefully participating in a protest – an act protected under the First Amendment and a right guaranteed to all Americans,” – University Statement.
As the case moves toward an arraignment date, supporters of Caravello are keeping a close eye. To this day, they are still holding rallies and events focused on raising visibility around his arrest and fighting for the rights of immigrants.