A Marine war veteran from Orange County is trying to get his father out of ICE detention in Los Angeles.
Narciso Barranco was landscaping a business Saturday morning in Santa Ana when he was taken in by ICE agents. Videos of his arrest went viral showing masked agents chasing him outside an IHOP in Santa Ana and then repeatedly punching him on the ground.
His son Alejandro, who served in Afghanistan, told KNX News’ Emily Valdez his father has no criminal record, but never got his citizenship.
“We can get him out on bail and help him out with the process he had already started, and yeah, that's the last thing we want,” he said.
Alejandro said tried to meet with his dad at the ICE detention center on Sunday night, but authorities wouldn’t let him.
“My dad is just one example where I believe there [are] a lot more people like my dad who deserve to have that legal status because their children and family members are giving their life to the country and they're serving in a good way,” he said.
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The Department of Homeland Security sent the following statement to KNX News:
"On June 21, Border Patrol Agents arrested an illegal alien who tried to evade law enforcement. 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. The agents took appropriate action and followed their training to use the minimum amount of force necessary to resolve the situation in a manner that prioritizes the safety of the public and our officers. He is now in ICE custody.Reports that officers dislocated his shoulder are FALSE. He was offered medical care which he declined.Resisting arrest places those being arrested, the agents, and the community at risk. Law enforcement is now facing a 500% increase in assaults while carrying out enforcement operations. But this will not deter CBP - we will continue enforcing the law and protecting American communities."
But Alejandro told Valdez he doesn't believe that's the case.
"I think it's funny just the way they try to defend themselves because I know for a fact that the weedwacker wasn't on," he said. "And they pepper sprayed them right before the weedwacker went sideways in the video. It's just a natural human reaction, as well as the weight distribution on the weedwacker. It's hard to keep control of when you only have one hand on it, especially like running around with it. I could see how the weedwacker would go sideways, but I don't believe that he tried hitting them with it."
A GoFundMe for Narciso has already raised $193,781 as of late Tuesday afternoon.
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