A Marine Corps veteran says he feels deceived because his father was beaten and arrested by masked federal agents while working as a landscaper. His father was arrested during one of the ongoing ICE workplace raids that have left immigrant communities scared and on edge, according to advocates.
On Monday, Alejandro Barranco said that his father, Narciso Barranco, was arrested by federal officials while working as a landscaper at an IHOP in Santa Ana, California, on Saturday afternoon. His father was born in Mexico and has lived in the US since the 1990s, said the 25-year-old Air Force soldier. His son said that he is not with a family and has no crime record.
Alex Barranco said, “He was always a good dad.” “He always made sure there was food for us.” We learnt from him to always give back to our country and love it.
A video of the event shows several guys in masks and tactical gear hitting Barranco in the head and neck over and over again. Few of the guys can be seen without vests that say “US Border Patrol Police” on the back of them.
The men then held Barranco’s arms behind his back and forced him into an unmarked car, as seen on camera.
In answer to a question about Barranco, Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, said that Border Patrol officers arrested a “illegal alien” after he “tried to evade law enforcement.”
McLaughlin said, “The illegal alien ran, then turned and swung a weed whacker right at an agent’s face.” “He then ran through a busy intersection and swung the weed whacker at the police officer again.” The illegal alien refused to follow all of the rules—he fought the handcuffs, resisted orders, and refused to identify himself.
The agency also put online a video of Barranco with a weed whacker and said he “assaulted federal law enforcement.” An officer is seen spraying something unknown at Barranco, who is carrying lawn tools but doesn’t seem to hit the officers in the video.
McLaughlin says that Barranco is currently in the care of ICE.
He was scared and ran away when masked federal agents came up to him “with guns out,” his son said.
Elías Barranco said, “He just got scared.”
When “masked men” with “big guns” come up to them, he said, “we’re going to be scared and try to defend ourselves, especially when they don’t say who they are.”
His son says that Narciso Barranco had previously talked about being afraid of being jailed because of his immigration status. “I can’t just stop working,” he said. He felt he had to “provide for himself and for us as well,” his son said.
As part of the crackdown on immigration, ICE has also started to do raids on farms, building sites, and food processing plants. Supporters say that the immigration sweeps cause immigrant workers to be afraid and upset, and they hurt the economies of businesses that depend on immigrant labour.
He told them that Alejandro Barranco was in the Marines for four years. His two younger brothers are both Marines right now.
He said, “It’s hard for us.” “This hurts us and makes us feel angry.”
Narciso Barranco called his son from jail and told him to get his landscaping tools and finish the job he was working on before he was caught.
“He’s sad.” “He’s hurt, he’s in pain,” Alejandro Barranco said about his dad when he called from the ICE holding centre. “He said he was hungry and thirsty.”
Alejandro Barranco says that when his father asked on the phone if he was hurt during the arrest, he “broke down and started crying.”
The soldier said, “I don’t think this is going in the right direction.” “I do think there should be a better system.” I think that getting a legal status should be much easier and better for people like my dad, my mom, and any parent or close family member of a police officer or military person.
An online effort called GoFundMe has been set up to help the family get Barranco a lawyer.
