A Marine Corps veteran lamented that he felt betrayed after his father was caught up in one of the ongoing ICE workplace raids. Alejandro Barranco told CNN on Monday that his father was beaten and arrested by masked federal agents while working at his landscaping job at an IHOP in Santa Ana, California.
According to the veteran, his dad, Narciso Barranco, was detained by federal agents Sunday afternoon as part of the ongoing ICE raids. Alejandro revealed that his father was born in Mexico but has lived in the United States since the 90s. Although he doesn’t have the proper documents, he has no criminal record.
Speaking with CNN, the 25-year-old marine veteran said, “He is always a good dad. He always made sure we had food on the table. He always taught us to respect, to love our country, to always give back.”
The raid was captured on video, and the footage revealed a group of masked men in tactical gear pinning Mr. Barranco to the ground. In addition, they also repeatedly hit him in the head and neck. The men then forced him into an unmarked vehicle while his arms were held behind his back.
As seen in the video, some of the men were seen wearing vests with text on the back: “US Border Patrol Police.” While confronted about the incident, Tricia McLaughlin, the Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, described Barranco as an “illegal alien.” Tricia claimed that he was detained as he was “trying to evade law enforcement.”
Narciso Barranco, an immigrant dad of three U.S. Marines, was violently detained by masked ICE agents while working a landscaping job. One of his sons, Alejandro Barranco, spoke out after witnessing ICE agents punch his father repeatedly.
Now, Narciso is being held at a Los… pic.twitter.com/mifgGUiIbE
— NowThis Impact (@nowthisimpact) June 23, 2025
“The illegal alien ran, then turned and swung a weed whacker directly at an agent’s face. He then fled through a busy intersection and raised the weed whacker again at the agent. The illegal alien refused to comply every step of the way—resisting commands, fighting handcuffs, and refusing to identify himself,” McLaughlin said.
In response to Barranco’s claims that his father was assaulted by the agents, DHS shared footage online that showed his father holding a weed whacker, claiming that he “assaulted federal law enforcement.”
The footage further shows an official spraying an unknown substance at the veteran’s father. Although he is seen holding lawn equipment, Mr. Barranco didn’t hit anyone. His son told the media that Barranco “just got scared” when approached by masked federal agents “with guns out.”
LAT posts a picture of Narciso Barranco, who was violently assaulted by ICE, with his 3 Marine sons.
These are the proud Americans @stephenm is targeting.https://t.co/18V6xuF14W pic.twitter.com/GeL3gUJxpg
— emptywheel (check) (@emptywheel) June 23, 2025
The incident shocked Alejandro, who had served four years in the Marines. He revealed to CNN that his two younger brothers are currently serving in the Marines. “It’s hard to us. We feel hurt, we feel betrayed,” he said.
“He’s very sad. He’s hurt, he’s in pain,” Alejandro told CNN.
“He said he was thirsty, he was hungry,” he told, recalling his father’s call from the detention center.
