A U.S. Army veteran arrested during an immigration raid at a California marijuana farm says he was sprayed with tear gas and pepper spray before being dragged from his vehicle on his way to work.

When immigration agents came to the farm where he worked, Jaime Alanis tried to hide. Climbing to the roof of a greenhouse, while agents rounded up and arrested dozens of his coworkers below, Mr Alanis hoped to stay out of sight.

George Retes told reporters he was manhandled by federal agents who broke his car window, damaged his vehicle and sprayed him with tear gas.