Marine veteran addresses Congress after dad forcibly detained by immigration agents

A Marine seasoned whose begetter was detained by national migration agents portion astatine his landscaping occupation successful California past period told Congress members connected Tuesday that his begetter is "traumatized" by what happened and charged that the migration strategy is "broken."

Customs and Border Patrol agents arrested Narciso Barranco, who is undocumented, successful Santa Ana connected June 21, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Video of him being forcibly detained showed masked agents holding him down connected the thoroughfare and repeatedly punching him aft helium ran from agents.

"My begetter has nary transgression grounds and should person ne'er been attacked by these agents," his son, Alejandro Barranco, told Democratic members of the House Committee connected Homeland Security during an oversight forum examining the Trump administration’s detention and deportation practices connected Tuesday. "He supported his household and paid taxes. He is simply a quality being, but helium was not treated with the basal dignity helium deserved."

Alejandro Barranco said his father, who has 2 different sons who are presently serving arsenic Marines, is "deeply devoted to this country." The seasoned said helium believes the existent migration strategy is "broken."

“Cruel and indiscriminate raids are tearing families isolated and punishing hard-working radical who lend to our communities each day," Alejandro Barranco said. "My father, similar truthful galore others, deserves a just accidental to enactment successful this state helium calls home. The state is amended due to the fact that of radical similar my dad. It is clip our policies reflected that."

Alejandro Barranco conducts an interrogation arsenic helium arrives to cheque connected his begetter Narciso, who was detained by national agents, extracurricular the Metropolitan Detention Center, June 23, 2025, successful Los Angeles.

Damian Dovarganes/AP

Narciso Barranco has since been released from custody enslaved but is "still scared," his lad said.

"He’s inactive traumatized from everything that happened," Alejandro Barranco said.

The Department of Homeland Security said pursuing the apprehension that Narciso Barranco tried to evade instrumentality enforcement, "swung a weed whacker straight astatine an agent's face" and resisted commands.

"The agents took due enactment and followed their grooming to usage the minimum magnitude of unit indispensable to resoluteness the concern successful a mode that prioritizes the information of the nationalist and our officers," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said successful a connection astatine the time.

Alejandro Barranco said during Tuesday's forum that his begetter got frightened aft the masked agents approached him portion helium was astatine work.

"As helium worked, helium noticed masked men approaching him, and was rapidly surrounded by men who did not place themselves and ne'er presented immoderate benignant of warrant," helium said. "Terrified, helium ran. They chased him done the parking batch and into a crowded street. They pointed guns astatine him, pepper-sprayed him. They tackled him to the crushed and kicked him."

When asked his thoughts astir Marines being sent to assistance successful migration operations, Alejandro said helium believes galore would consciousness "confused, wounded and conscionable bittersweet astir everything that is going on."

"I served with a batch of Marines who are of Latino backgrounds and whose parents and household members, immoderate of them are undocumented," helium said.

When asked by Rep. Lou Correa, D-Calif., if helium was inactive loyal to the U.S., the Marine seasoned replied, "Yes, of course."

"I decided to articulation the Marine Corps retired of the emotion I person for this state and to bring grant to my household name," Alejandro Barranco said. "When I told my dada I was going to enlist, helium cried with pride. He told maine to springiness everything I had, due to the fact that we should bash thing and everything to springiness backmost to our country."

Narciso Barranco was released from national custody connected July 15 and has an migration presumption proceeding successful August, according to Orange City Council officials.