DHS defends viral video of Border Patrol agents detaining undocumented landscaper wielding weed whacker
Share this @internewscast.com

A video has gone viral featuring a landscaper in Santa Ana who appears to be in a panic, swinging a weed whacker before being subdued by Border Patrol officers.

In the footage, immigration enforcement officers are seen tackling and striking Narciso Barranco—a husband and father to three sons serving as United States Marines—while he was performing landscaping work outside an IHOP located at Edinger and Ritchey in Santa Ana, CA. 

The video has sparked outrage, raising questions about the alleged use of force by the agents and whether Barranco, who is undocumented, was allegedly attempting to attack officers trying to detain him or was simply attempting to flee.

Narciso Barranco and family

Narciso Barranco, a husband and father of three sons who are United States Marines, was detained while he was doing his landscaping job outside an IHOP on Edinger and Ritchey in Santa Ana, CA.  (GoFundMe/Jacqueline Vasquez )

“He ASSAULTED federal law enforcement with a WEED WHACKER. Perhaps the mainstream media would like our officers to stand there and be mowed down instead of defending themselves? What a completely slanted portrayal of what actually happened,” the post stated.

In a statement to FOX 11, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin claims they took the appropriate steps.

“The agents took appropriate action and following their training to use the minimum amount of force necessary to resolve the situation in a manner that prioritizes the safety of the public and our officers,” the statement read.

three sons

“He is a good, hard working man. He has raised his family here and has established himself here. What we ALL saw today was disgusting and heart wrenching. Time after time we are seeing stories like this one,” a GoFundMe for the family stated. (GoFundMe/Jacqueline Vasquez )

However, Immigration Council senior fellow Aaron Reichlin-Melnick said he disagreed about what the video supposedly depicts.

“The video shows him vaguely waving a weed whacker at someone far outside his reach, as he runs away from people he says didn’t identify themselves or even say anything as they ran at him. That is not assault under any definition of the term. And it doesn’t merit BEING BEATEN,” Reichlin-Melnick responded in a repost of the video.

A GoFundMe set up by Jacqueline Vasquez says the way immigration officials handled Barranco was “disgusting.”

“He is a good, hard working man. He has raised his family here and has established himself here. What we ALL saw today was disgusting and heart wrenching. Time after time we are seeing stories like this one,” it stated.

According to the page, Barranco had gone over 24 hours without medical attention and was still wearing the bloody clothes he was detained in. It also states he is in a cell with about 70 people and only receives water once a day.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Jacqueline Vasquez for comment.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
ESPYS' Sports Humanitarian Awards honor off-field achievements

Celebrating Off-Field Achievements: The ESPYS’ Sports Humanitarian Awards

LOS ANGELES — The 11th annual ESPYS’ Sports Humanitarian Awards took place…
Alreadly Terrible WHCA Appoints a New Head, and Somehow Manages to Get Comically Worse

WHCA Announces New Leadership: Decision Sparks Further Controversy

The White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) has long been criticized for its…
Emma Watson at the Elton John AIDS Foundation's Academy Awards Viewing Party.

Emma Watson, Known for Her Role in Harry Potter, Loses Driving Privileges After Fourth Speeding Violation in Two Years

HARRY Potter star Emma Watson has been banned from driving for six…
Fire crews along Grand Canyon are trying to save cabins after loss of historic lodge

Firefighters Strive to Preserve Cabins Near Grand Canyon Following Historic Lodge Loss

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) — On Tuesday, firefighting crews worked…
New text messages fuel Alex Murdaugh's push for new trial

Latest Text Messages Strengthen Alex Murdaugh’s Case for Retrial

Recently discovered text messages between the disgraced ex-lawyer Alex Murdaugh and his…
JSO: Man shot, killed by JSO officers after attacking them; 2 officers injured

JSO Officers Fatally Shoot Suspect After Assault; Two Officers Injured

JSO Chief Alan Parker said officers arrived at a home on Jacksonville’s…
Douglass Park shooting report outlines then-Lifeguard Charles Leto's disciplinary past, Chicago Park District security issues

Detailed Report on Douglass Park Shooting Highlights Former Lifeguard Charles Leto’s Troubled History and Security Concerns in Chicago Park District

CHICAGO (WLS) — The Chicago Park District released its initial report on…
President Trump speaking to reporters.

Trump Advises Zelensky Against Targeting Moscow After Discussing How to Impact Putin

DONALD Trump has advised Volodymyr Zelensky against using US-made missiles to attack…
A group of people enjoying a French-themed lunch outdoors.

Over 50% of Americans Appreciate the French Lifestyle, with Optimal Work-Life Balance Being the Most Admired Aspect, Survey Reveals

A majority of Americans hold the French lifestyle in high regard, particularly…
(FILES) This file handout photo provided by Saudi Arabia's NEOM on July 26, 2022 shows the design plan for the 500-metre tall parallel structures, known collectively as The Line, in the heart of the Red Sea megacity NEOM. - Saudi Arabia was chosen to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games at a $500 billion futuristic megacity in the desert that planners say will feature a year-round winter sports complex. The Saudi bid was "unanimously approved", the statement said, noting that the megacity known as NEOM will be the first West Asian city to host the event. (Photo by NEOM / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / NEOM" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS (Photo by -/NEOM/AFP via Getty Images)

The Future of Saudi Arabia’s $1 Trillion Megacity “The Line” Uncertain as Leaders Assess Feasibility Amid Controversy

The ambitious $1 trillion megacity, The Line, faces uncertainty as Saudi leaders…
Death of Australia’s ‘Outback Killer’ leaves whereabouts of British backpacker’s body unknown

The Passing of Australia’s ‘Outback Killer’ Leaves British Backpacker’s Body Unfound

Police fear that Bradley John Murdoch, also known as the “Outback Killer,”…
Pentagon ends deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in LA

Pentagon Withdraws 2,000 National Guard Troops from Los Angeles Deployment

Roughly 4,000 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines have been in the…