LOS ANGELES — An immigration judge has dismissed the deportation case against Narciso Barranco, a landscaper and father of three U.S. Marines, who had been apprehended in Southern California. The decision opens a path for Barranco, who immigrated from Mexico in the 1990s, to apply for legal permanent residency in the U.S.
Barranco's arrest last June during a crackdown on immigration policy received significant media and public attention, as he was taken into custody outside an IHOP restaurant in Santa Ana where he was clearing weeds. Videos of the arrest showed federal agents using force to restrain him.
After being placed in a Los Angeles detention center, Barranco was released on bail and required to wear an ankle monitor until his case was resolved. In a recent order dated January 28, Judge Kristin S. Piepmeier acknowledged Barranco's eligibility for lawful status due to his parental ties to U.S. service members.
I feel happy, Barranco expressed in a phone interview, reflecting on the relief that comes with the ruling. Thank God I don’t have that weight on top of me. However, he disclosed that he is still cautious and prefers to stay mostly at home until his legal situation is fully resolved.
Despite the positive news, the Department of Homeland Security has announced plans to appeal the judge’s ruling. Barranco's attorney, Lisa Ramirez, criticized the aggressive nature of his initial apprehension, arguing it was excessively traumatic and unwarranted for someone with no criminal history.
They came after him because he was a brown gardener in the streets of Santa Ana, said Ramirez, who is also guiding Barranco through the Parole in Place program, which is designed to protect the parents of U.S. military personnel from deportation. If approved, Barranco would obtain permanent residency and a work permit.
Adding to the family’s military background, Barranco's son Alejandro highlighted the unnecessary use of force during the arrest, contrasting it with his own military training as a Marine. Alejandro, who assisted in the U.S. military's evacuation efforts in Afghanistan, emphasized his father's character as kind and hard-working.
The outcome of Barranco's legal journey remains uncertain, but his family stands resolute in their support, and the community watches closely as the appeal unfolds.
