SAN DIEGO (AP) — The father of a Marine detained by immigration authorities while visiting his pregnant daughter at Camp Pendleton has a troubling criminal record, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Esteban Rios was deported to Mexico in 1999, subsequently removed again in 2005, and ordered deported by an immigration judge in 2020 after illegally re-entering the United States for a third time.
The DHS's detailed account came after Steve Rios, a Marine, revealed that his father was detained during a family visit and subsequently jailed at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office. The agency initially refrained from providing specifics about Esteban's record when asked earlier by The Associated Press, stating that 'criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the U.S.'
On Thursday, DHS shifted its stance, offering a detailed view of Esteban's past. This followed the AP's report about the family's ordeal and the accusations from DHS aimed at the news organization for allegedly misrepresenting facts.
Steve Rios of Oceanside, California, shared that his parents, who immigrated from Mexico over 30 years ago, worked hard to build a life in the U.S. washing cars and cleaning houses. I’ve seen all the struggles they’ve gone through... the least I could do, right, and serve this country and try to, you know, put some time in, he expressed regarding his decision to enlist as a Marine.
On September 28, during a routine family visit to pick up his sister and her husband, ICE officials detained both parents, later releasing them with ankle monitors. Esteban was deported on October 10.
The family has maintained that Esteban and his wife have no criminal history and are currently awaiting the processing of green card applications sponsored by Steve.
In a statement responding to media inquiries, DHS emphasized the harsh stance against criminal behavior, citing policies under the Trump administration. However, the agency failed to clarify Esteban's specific legal circumstances, leading to further questions about transparency within immigration enforcement protocols.
The DHS's detailed account came after Steve Rios, a Marine, revealed that his father was detained during a family visit and subsequently jailed at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office. The agency initially refrained from providing specifics about Esteban's record when asked earlier by The Associated Press, stating that 'criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the U.S.'
On Thursday, DHS shifted its stance, offering a detailed view of Esteban's past. This followed the AP's report about the family's ordeal and the accusations from DHS aimed at the news organization for allegedly misrepresenting facts.
Steve Rios of Oceanside, California, shared that his parents, who immigrated from Mexico over 30 years ago, worked hard to build a life in the U.S. washing cars and cleaning houses. I’ve seen all the struggles they’ve gone through... the least I could do, right, and serve this country and try to, you know, put some time in, he expressed regarding his decision to enlist as a Marine.
On September 28, during a routine family visit to pick up his sister and her husband, ICE officials detained both parents, later releasing them with ankle monitors. Esteban was deported on October 10.
The family has maintained that Esteban and his wife have no criminal history and are currently awaiting the processing of green card applications sponsored by Steve.
In a statement responding to media inquiries, DHS emphasized the harsh stance against criminal behavior, citing policies under the Trump administration. However, the agency failed to clarify Esteban's specific legal circumstances, leading to further questions about transparency within immigration enforcement protocols.
