Judge throws out California deportation case involving Mexican father of three US Marines
An immigration judge has ended deportation proceedings against a Southern California landscaper who was arrested last year, clearing the way for him to pursue legal permanent residency in the United States. Narciso Barranco, 49, who came to the U.S. from Mexico in the 1990s and does not currently have legal status, had been facing removal despite being the father of three U.S.-born Marines. The judge ruled on Jan. 28 that Barranco had provided sufficient evidence of his sons’ military service, making him eligible to seek lawful status under existing immigration provisions.
Barranco’s arrest in June drew significant public attention amid heightened immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump. Bystanders recorded federal agents wrestling with him and pinning him to the ground outside an IHOP restaurant in Santa Ana, where he had been working to clear weeds. Authorities later transported him to a Los Angeles detention facility and initiated deportation proceedings. He was released in July on a $3,000 bond and required to wear an ankle monitor while his case moved forward.
Following the judge’s decision to terminate the case, Barranco expressed relief, saying he no longer feels the heavy burden that had weighed on him for months. He explained that he has largely remained at home while awaiting the completion of his legal paperwork, cautious about resuming normal activities until his status is formally resolved. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security announced it plans to appeal the ruling, signaling that the legal battle may not yet be over.
Barranco’s attorney said her client has experienced profound relief since immigration authorities removed his ankle monitor and ended his required check-ins. She described the manner of his arrest as traumatic and emphasized that he has no criminal history. According to his legal team, Barranco has applied for Parole in Place, a program that can shield parents of U.S. military service members from deportation and allow them to apply for permanent residency. If approved, he would also be eligible for a work permit, though the process could take six months or longer.
Federal officials have defended the actions of the agents involved in the arrest, stating that Barranco failed to comply with commands and swung a weed trimmer in their direction. They said agents used only the minimum force necessary to ensure public and officer safety. Barranco’s son Alejandro, a Marine Corps veteran who left the service in 2023 after assisting in the 2021 evacuation of U.S. personnel and Afghan allies from Afghanistan, has disputed that account. He has maintained that his father did not attack anyone, has no criminal record and is known as a hardworking and kind individual. Barranco’s two other sons remain on active duty in the Marine Corps.
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