Alejandro confirmed that his father is undocumented but emphasized that Narciso has no criminal history. “He’s a hardworking man, a father of five, and has always provided for us. He taught us to respect people, to respect this country,” he said.
In interviews with CNN, KABC, and The Los Angeles Times, Alejandro described his father as a loving and responsible figure who worked tirelessly to support his children.
“He always made sure we had food on the table. He always taught us to give back and love our country,” he said. “That’s part of why my brothers and I joined the Marine Corps.”
After his arrest, Alejandro managed to speak with his father by phone on Sunday, June 22. “He said he was still hurt, hadn’t received any medical attention, hadn’t eaten, and was very thirsty,” he told reporters.
DHS claimed in its statement that Barranco “was offered medical care, which he declined.”
The case has ignited outrage within the community and among immigration advocates. A GoFundMe campaign launched to help the Barranco family with legal expenses has already raised nearly $160,000 as of Tuesday.
“Narciso’s family continues to work tirelessly to secure legal assistance and to bring him home after his unjust detainment,” reads an update on the campaign. “The strength and solidarity from our community are what give them hope.”
Alejandro, who now finds himself advocating for his father’s release, said it’s painful to see someone who helped instill in him a deep respect for America treated this way.
“My parents taught us to love and thank this country,” he told KABC. “That’s why we served. But what happened to my father—I don’t think that’s right. This is not what we were raised to believe in.”