Published: 11:38, June 26, 2025
Mexican president condemns 'unjust' detention of migrant in US
By Xinhua
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum attends her morning press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City, April 2, 2025. (PHOTO / AP)

MEXICO CITY - Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday condemned what she described as the "unjust" treatment of undocumented migrants in the United States, saying it reflects the mistreatment of migrants who have long contributed to US society.

At her daily press briefing, Sheinbaum criticized the violent arrest of Narciso Barranco, a Mexican gardener who has lived in the United States for more than 30 years and whose children serve in the US Marine Corps.

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A widely-circulated video shows Barranco being tackled and beaten by masked immigration agents -- reportedly from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement -- while trimming bushes outside a restaurant in Tustin, California, over the weekend.

"These are people who left Mexico out of necessity and built their lives in the US They're Mexican and American, even if they don't hold legal citizenship," Sheinbaum said.

In response, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Barranco initiated the confrontation by attacking agents with a weed trimmer.

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"Would the media prefer our agents to wait to get injured rather than defend themselves?" the DHS wrote on the social platform X.

Sheinbaum said Mexico's consulate in Los Angeles had reached out to Barranco and pledged support. She also praised actor Diego Luna for publicly defending the Mexican community during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

The president further criticized the US administration's immigration raids in cities like Los Angeles, which have sparked protests and clashes throughout June.