California Professor Acquitted of Assault After Removing Tear Gas at Immigration Protest

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 06:16:00 +0200

Jonathan Caravello, a California philosophy professor, was acquitted of charges for assaulting federal agents after removing a tear gas canister during a protest against an immigration raid. Caravello had faced up to 20 years in prison for allegedly throwing the canister back at agents. The jury found no evidence that any agent was harmed. Caravello’s defense argued he acted in self-defense, after Border Patrol agents deployed tear gas without warning into a crowd of peaceful protesters. The case arose from a July 2025 raid on Glass House Farms, part of a broader crackdown by the Trump administration on undocumented workers. The trial highlighted tensions over immigration enforcement, with Caravello receiving support from his community and labor union. The prosecution struggled to prove intent, and testimony from agents contradicted body-camera footage. The case marks a significant loss for the Trump administration's aggressive stance on immigration and deportation.