Marine Veteran’s Father Beaten by Border Patrol Agents

Marine Veteran’s Father Beaten by Border Patrol Agents \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A U.S. Marine Corps veteran was horrified when he saw a video of his father—an undocumented landscaper—being violently arrested and beaten by masked U.S. Border Patrol officers in Santa Ana. The video shows officers spraying pepper spray and repeatedly hitting 48-year-old Narciso Barranco during an immigration arrest, sparking protests and calls for investigation. DHS claims Barranco swung a weed trimmer at agents, but family and witnesses say he didn’t attack and was responding defensively.

Quick Looks

• Violent Arrest: Narciso Barranco, 48, is seen being pinned and beaten by masked Border Patrol agents outside an IHOP in Santa Ana.
• Family Reaction: His son, former Marine Alejandro Barranco, called it “uncalled for” and inconsistent with his military training.
• DHS Explanation: Officials say Barranco refused commands and swung a weed trimmer at agents.
• Viral Video: Clips show Barranco running with the trimmer, being pepper sprayed, and struck in the head and neck while prone.
• Family Impact: Alejandro waited hours to visit his father in detention; Barranco told him he was in “a lot of pain.”
• Community Response: Santa Ana Councilmember Johnathan Hernandez called the video “horrifying” and vowed to request a full investigation.
• DHS Context: The agency noted increased interference during arrests, and the federal government has deployed National Guard troops to protect agents.
• Family Background: Barranco’s three sons—two active duty Marines and one veteran—emphasized their family’s patriotism and work ethic.

Deep Look

In a video circulating on social media, masked Border Patrol agents violently arrest 48-year-old landscaper Narciso Barranco outside an IHOP in Santa Ana, California—an incident that has sparked outrage and renewed scrutiny of immigration enforcement tactics. The footage shows Barranco tangled on the ground with agents. Although he is restrained, he repeatedly appears to be hit in the head and neck while pinned facedown.

Barranco’s son, Alejandro—a recent U.S. Marine Corps veteran—says his father called him in “a lot of pain” after the arrest. Witnesses note that Barranco, who entered the U.S. from Mexico in the 1990s without legal status, did not physically strike anyone before the arrest. Alejandro, whose two brothers are active-duty Marines, described the force used against his father as excessive, saying, “It looks like he’s putting up resistance … that’s a natural human reaction … when they are being beaten.”

The Department of Homeland Security maintained in a statement that Barranco refused to follow commands and swung a weed trimmer directly at agents. DHS asserts agents responded with “minimum amount of force necessary” to secure public safety. A released video from the agency captures Barranco running through a busy intersection, brandishing the trimmer, encountering a truck that blocks his path, and then being tackled by agents. At one point, an officer deploys pepper spray and another draws a gun. Following the takedown, Barranco is seen on the ground as an agent repeatedly strikes him. DHS said Barranco declined medical attention.

Alejandro tried visiting his father on Monday at a Los Angeles federal immigration detention center but waited for more than three hours before leaving, as staff could not locate his father before visiting hours ended. Barranco remains in ICE custody.

The incident has galvanized local officials. Santa Ana City Councilmember Johnathan Hernandez called the footage “horrifying” and said he will seek a thorough investigation. The broader context includes an uptick in interference with immigration enforcement and the deployment of the California National Guard and Marines to protect federal agents—a move critics say escalates tensions amid heightened immigration crackdowns.

The Barranco family’s story illustrates a deeply personal form of patriotism: all three of the father’s sons served in the Marine Corps. Alejandro noted his family joined the U.S. military out of love and gratitude, saying, “We joined … because we love our country and want to give back.”

Narciso Barranco’s arrest spotlights the fraught intersection of enforcing immigration law and respecting civil rights—particularly when operations involve violence in public. The escalating use of force by masked agents raises urgent questions about transparency, oversight, and proper conduct during arrests.

As Santa Ana’s representative pursues an inquiry, the case is testing community trust. A landscape gardener — hard working and law-abiding, according to his family — is now the face of broader concerns over treatment of undocumented immigrants. The outcome may determine how agencies balance enforcement with accountability and human dignity moving forward.

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