The parents were initially taken into custody on base and later released with ankle monitors, before being detained again.
www.newsweek.com
US Marine’s Parents Detained by ICE While Visiting Military Base
Federal immigration agents reportedly detained the parents of a U.S. Marine during a visit to Camp Pendleton, California, leading to the father's subsequent deportation.
Esteban Rios and Luisa Rodriguez, residents of Oceanside, California, were attempting to visit their pregnant daughter, who is married to another Marine stationed at the base, when they were taken into custody by ICE agents, NBC 7 San Diego reported.
Their son, Steve Rios, said he joined the military because of his parents, Esteban Rios and Luisa Rodriguez.
"It was just making them proud, right? I’ve seen all the struggles they’ve gone through," Steve told NBC 7 San Diego. "The least I could do, right, and serve this country and try to, you know, put some time in."
Newsweek has contacted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comment via email.
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump's administration is pushing forward with plans to deport millions of migrants without legal status as part of an aggressive immigration strategy.
Newsweek has revealed multiple cases of U.S.
veterans and
active service members who have had family members and
loved ones detained by immigration enforcers.
What To Know
The family expressed distress over the situation, emphasizing the emotional impact of the separation.
Steve Rios said that when his parents attempted to enter the base, ICE agents stopped them and detained both Esteban Rios and Luisa Rodriguez. The family insists that neither has a criminal record and that
both have pending green card applications, sponsored by Steve Rios, as well as work visas while they await approval.
"It was scary," Steve Rios said. "It was scary because my whole life, I've kind of just, it's been in the back of my head."
He added that
his parents arrived from Mexico over 30 years ago and spent decades working relentlessly, washing cars and cleaning houses from dawn to dusk—to give their family a chance at a better life.
"My brother texted me that they got stopped. And as soon as I heard that, I just started, like, bawling," their daughter Ashley Rios, who was waiting for them with her husband, told NBC 7 San Diego. "He asked what was wrong, and I said that my parents were getting taken."
Their parents were initially taken downtown but released a few hours later with ankle monitors. They were instructed to check in with ICE on Thursday, and when they did, they were detained again after waiting several hours. At the time, Steve’s father was wearing a red shirt and a white hat reading "Proud dad of a U.S. Marine."
On Friday morning, Steve spoke briefly with his father, who said they were being held in the basement of the federal building before being moved to the Otay Mesa Detention Center. Esteban Rios was deported later that day, Steve said.
They snuck in 30 years ago and have "pending Green card applications"
yeah, they probably got around to filling them out last month.
That marine should be deported too.
www.foxnews.com
