An immigration judge halted deportation of a Mexican father of three U.S. Marines, citing eligibility for Parole in Place.

An immigration judge has dismissed the deportation case against Narciso Barranco, a 49-year-old Mexican national and father of three U.S. Marines, citing his eligibility for Parole in Place, a program for parents of active-duty military members. The decision follows his June 2025 arrest in Santa Ana, California, during a raid outside an IHOP, which sparked national attention and criticism over immigration enforcement. Barranco, who entered the U.S. in the 1990s without legal status and has no criminal record, was released on bond and required to wear an ankle monitor, but the judge’s January 2026 ruling ended deportation proceedings. The Department of Homeland Security plans to appeal, maintaining Barranco resisted arrest and swung a weed trimmer at agents, though his family and legal team deny any violence. Barranco has applied for Parole in Place, which could lead to permanent residency and a work permit, a process expected to take several months.