A US Marine’s father was deported and his mother detained after both were arrested by federal immigration officials while visiting family at Camp Pendleton in California.
Under the MAGA government, immigration enforcement is even affecting military families.
Steve Rios, a Marine from Oceanside, said his parents, Esteban Rios and Luisa Rodriguez, went to Camp Pendleton on September 28 to have breakfast with his pregnant sister, Ashley Rios, and her husband, who is also a Marine.
The couple was stopped at the gate by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
“They were taken into custody and later released with ankle monitors,” Steve Rios said. “At a later check-in with federal immigration officials, they were detained again.”
The arrested parents came to the United States from Mexico 30 years ago, reports NBC 7 San Diego.
Esteban Rios was wearing a red shirt and a white hat reading “Proud dad of a U.S. Marine” when he was taken into custody, his son said. “He said, ‘Yeah, this is my lucky shirt, so we’ll be fine,’” Steve recalled. By October 10, Esteban had been deported, while his mother’s whereabouts remained unknown.
Neither parent had a criminal record, and both had pending green card applications, which Steve Rios said he had sponsored. “It was scary because my whole life, it’s been in the back of my head,” he said. “They’ve worked tirelessly cleaning houses and cars all these years. It was just making them proud.”
Ashley Rios, expecting her first child, said it was difficult not having her parents nearby. “I'd always want my mom in that delivery room and everything, so it’s just hard not to think about your parents there,” she said.
An ICE spokesperson told NBC, “All aliens in violation of U.S. immigration law may be subject to arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States, regardless of nationality.” The department added that it enforces laws against those who break them.
The case is part of a broader push by the MAGA administration to enforce immigration laws more strictly, which has occasionally affected the families of military personnel and veterans. In recent months, other military families have also reported ICE detaining relatives despite pending legal status or ongoing parental duties.
Steve Rios remained uncertain about what will happen next. “They might get sent back. They might not. The only person that knows is up there,” he said.
Under the MAGA government, immigration enforcement is even affecting military families.
Steve Rios, a Marine from Oceanside, said his parents, Esteban Rios and Luisa Rodriguez, went to Camp Pendleton on September 28 to have breakfast with his pregnant sister, Ashley Rios, and her husband, who is also a Marine.
The couple was stopped at the gate by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
“They were taken into custody and later released with ankle monitors,” Steve Rios said. “At a later check-in with federal immigration officials, they were detained again.”
The arrested parents came to the United States from Mexico 30 years ago, reports NBC 7 San Diego.
Esteban Rios was wearing a red shirt and a white hat reading “Proud dad of a U.S. Marine” when he was taken into custody, his son said. “He said, ‘Yeah, this is my lucky shirt, so we’ll be fine,’” Steve recalled. By October 10, Esteban had been deported, while his mother’s whereabouts remained unknown.
Neither parent had a criminal record, and both had pending green card applications, which Steve Rios said he had sponsored. “It was scary because my whole life, it’s been in the back of my head,” he said. “They’ve worked tirelessly cleaning houses and cars all these years. It was just making them proud.”
Ashley Rios, expecting her first child, said it was difficult not having her parents nearby. “I'd always want my mom in that delivery room and everything, so it’s just hard not to think about your parents there,” she said.
An ICE spokesperson told NBC, “All aliens in violation of U.S. immigration law may be subject to arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States, regardless of nationality.” The department added that it enforces laws against those who break them.
The case is part of a broader push by the MAGA administration to enforce immigration laws more strictly, which has occasionally affected the families of military personnel and veterans. In recent months, other military families have also reported ICE detaining relatives despite pending legal status or ongoing parental duties.
Steve Rios remained uncertain about what will happen next. “They might get sent back. They might not. The only person that knows is up there,” he said.
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