“We speak with Alejandro Barranco at the IHOP in Santa Ana, CA, where Alejandro’s father, Narciso Barranco, was working as a landscaper when armed, masked ICE agents without a warrant brutally beat him and kidnapped him in broad daylight.”
The United States is often seen as a land of opportunity, a place where people can come and build a better life for themselves and their families. However, for the Barranco family, this dream was shattered when their father and husband, Narciso Barranco, was brutally beaten and kidnapped by armed, masked ICE agents without a warrant.
I had the opportunity to sit down with Alejandro Barranco at the IHOP in Santa Ana, CA, where his father was working as a landscaper when the incident occurred. Alejandro, a bright and determined young man, shared his family’s story with me, hoping to shed light on the injustice and brutality they have experienced.
Narciso Barranco, a hardworking and dedicated father, had been living and working in the United States for over 20 years. He had built a life for himself and his family, working tirelessly to provide for them. However, on that fateful day, his life would be forever changed.
Alejandro recounted the events of that day, “My father was working as usual when he was suddenly approached by armed, masked ICE agents. They had no warrant, no reason to be there. They began to beat him mercilessly, and before we knew it, they had taken him away in broad daylight, leaving my family in shock and fear.”
The Barranco family, like many others, had heard of the increasing number of ICE raids and arrests in recent years. They had seen the news and heard the stories, but never did they imagine that it would happen to them. Alejandro shared, “My father was a law-abiding citizen, and we never thought he would be a target for ICE. We were wrong.”
The Barranco family was left devastated and traumatized by the events of that day. Alejandro’s mother, Maria, was left to take care of their three younger siblings, while Alejandro, the oldest at 21, had to take on the responsibility of providing for the family. He had to drop out of college and take on multiple jobs to make ends meet.
But despite the hardships, Alejandro remains determined to fight for his father’s release and for justice to be served. He has been tirelessly advocating for his father’s case, reaching out to lawyers and organizations for support.
“Seeing my father’s hard work and sacrifices being taken away from him in an instant has only fueled my determination to fight for his freedom. My father is a good man, and he deserves to be here with his family,” Alejandro expressed with a determined look in his eyes.
The Barranco family’s story is not an isolated incident. Across the country, thousands of families are being torn apart by ICE raids and arrests. These actions not only cause immense pain and suffering to families but also go against the values that this nation stands for.
In a country built by immigrants, it is disheartening to see families being targeted and torn apart. It is time for us, as a society, to stand up against these injustices and demand change. We must not turn a blind eye to the suffering of families like the Barrancos.
As we finished our conversation, Alejandro shared one final message, “I want to thank everyone who has shown support to my family during this difficult time. Your words of encouragement and actions give us hope that justice will prevail. We must continue to speak out against these injustices and fight for a better future for all families.”
The Barranco family’s story is a reminder that we must not take our rights and freedoms for granted. We must stand together and demand change, for a better and more just society. As for Alejandro and his family, they will continue to fight for their father’s freedom, and we must stand with them in solidarity.
