Immigration Judge Dismisses Deportation Case Against Undocumented Father of Three U.S. Marines as DHS Vows Appeal
An immigration judge has dismissed deportation proceedings against Juan Barranco, an undocumented Mexican man who has lived in the U.S. since the 1990s and is the father of three active‑duty U.S. Marines; Barranco, who has no criminal record, was detained for three weeks after a June arrest and released on bond with an ankle monitor while pursuing a parole‑in‑place application as an immediate relative of service members. The case features dueling accounts of the arrest—witness video showing agents pinning and punching Barranco versus DHS allegations he swung a weed‑whacker at an officer—and DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called the ruling "lawless" and the judge "activist" as the department vows to appeal, with multiple members of Congress monitoring the situation and the family seeking expedited processing of the parole‑in‑place request.
đź“Ś Key Facts
- An immigration judge dismissed the deportation case against Barranco, an undocumented father of three U.S. Marines.
- The Department of Homeland Security has vowed to appeal the ruling; DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called the decision 'lawless' and the judge an 'activist,' while family attorney Lisa Ramirez issued detailed statements in defense of Barranco.
- There are dueling accounts of the June arrest: witness video reportedly shows agents piling on and punching Barranco, while DHS says he swung a weed whacker at an agent’s face.
- Barranco has no criminal record, has lived in the U.S. since the 1990s, and was in the process of seeking parole in place as an immediate relative of active‑duty Marines.
- He spent three weeks in custody before being released on bond with an ankle monitor, and the family waited nearly eight months for the judge's decision.
- Multiple members of Congress in both chambers are now tracking the case, and the family and their lawyer are seeking expedited processing of his parole‑in‑place application before DHS can overturn the ruling.
đź“° Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- CBS piece adds detailed quotes from family attorney Lisa Ramirez and from DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin calling the ruling 'lawless' and the judge 'activist.'
- It lays out dueling accounts of the June arrest: witnesses’ video of agents piling on and punching Barranco versus DHS’ claim that he swung a weed whacker at an agent’s face.
- It confirms Barranco has no criminal record, has lived in the U.S. since the 1990s, and was in the process of seeking parole in place as an immediate relative of active‑duty Marines.
- The article notes he spent three weeks in custody before release on bond with an ankle monitor and that the family waited nearly eight months for the decision.
- It reports that multiple members of Congress in both chambers are now tracking the case and that the family and lawyer are seeking expedited processing of his parole‑in‑place application before DHS can overturn the ruling.