The Orange County father of the three US Marines was first released since his release from federal immigration custody, sharing not only his own story, but also the voices of fellow detainees he shared his phone.
Tustin’s landscaper Narciso Baranco was taken into custody by masked customs and border security agents while working outside an IHOP restaurant in Santa Ana last month. The arrests stunned him and involved agents who stolen him before forcing him into an unmarked SUV, captured on video and shared widely online, sparking public attention and local protests.
Federal officials say that during the arrest, an undocumented Valenco attacked an agent attacked with a weed groomer. A short video released by the Department of Homeland Security shows the barlanco running and swinging beyond the tool as agents deploy pepper spray. However, his family has challenged the allegations and Baranco has not been charged with a crime. His lawyers say he was taken into custody only for immigration status.
His son, 25-year-old Alejandro Baranco, previously told KTLA he believes his father is being racially introduced.
“They assumed he probably didn’t have the documents because he was working on landscaping,” he said.
Baranco’s family says he crossed the US border without documents about 30 years ago and has lived in California since then, raising three sons, all serving in the US Marines. Two are currently enlisted. He has no criminal history.
Landscape gardeners (@SantaNaproblems on Instagram) who are physically suppressed by US Border Patrol agents in Santa Ana in June 2025 are seen being physically suppressed by US Border Patrol agents in Santa Ana in June 2025. 2025. (@santaanaproblems on Instagram)
Now, Valenco will appear outside Santa Ana’s Old Orange County Courthouse on Friday, where he spoke to supporters through his lawyer and interpreter Lisa Ramirez.
“On behalf of Adelanto’s former cellmates, including Emilio Martinez, Lazaro Roya, Edgar and Leonidas, I want to say to their family.
Ramirez told KTLA that if she had been involved in the case previously, Baranco could have helped her apply for legal residency through a federal program known as PAROLE.
“He has zero criminal history. He has not even had a touching violation of his records,” Ramirez said. “He is married to a US citizen. He has three US citizen Marines, so under the statute he clearly allows both residents to apply for residence.”
“The heartbreaking reality – and I see this a lot – people are actually entitled to legalize their status and they either don’t know about it or are victims of immigration fraud,” she added.
Baranco’s arrest drew criticism from Rep. Lu Correa, who represents the Santa Ana area of Congress.
“We cannot have federal agents incite violence on our streets and attack innocent parents,” Correa said in a statement. “Obviously we need immigration reform, especially for people like Mr. Baranco who have lived in this country for 25-30 years and raised their sons to protect the United States.”
Baranco’s next immigration court hearing is scheduled for August. His lawyers say she plans to pursue his legal residence through a field parole program.
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