SAN DIEGO (AP) — The father of a Marine who was arrested by immigration authorities when visiting his pregnant daughter at Camp Pendleton has a criminal record that includes charges of domestic violence and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, the Department of Homeland Security said Thursday.
Esteban Rios was deported to Mexico in 1999, removed from the United States again in 2005 and ordered deported by an immigration judge in 2020 after entering the country illegally a third time, the department said.
This statement provided the first detailed account from Homeland Security after Marine Steve Rios mentioned last week that his father was detained while visiting the Southern California military base. This detention led to Esteban being released with ankle monitors and subsequently detained again when reporting to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office as directed.
Initially, Homeland Security had not provided specifics regarding Esteban Rios' criminal background, stating only that criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the U.S. Following media inquiries, they later released detailed information about his criminal history.
Steve Rios of Oceanside, California, expressed to San Diego station KNSD that his parents inspired him to enlist in the Marines, highlighting their journey from Mexico over 30 years ago and their hardworking nature.
The incident on September 28 involved Steve and his family picking up his sister and her husband from Pendleton—a routine they undertook every weekend during her pregnancy—when ICE officials detained both parents. Esteban was later deported on October 10.
The Rios family maintains that they have no prior criminal records and have pending green card applications sponsored by Steve.
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman from Homeland Security, stated that under the previous administration, individuals who break the law, including Esteban Rios, would face the consequences. However, inquiries from Associated Press about whether Esteban was arrested or charged with a crime were met with a lack of clarity, leaving questions about the true nature of his legal status and history.
Esteban Rios was deported to Mexico in 1999, removed from the United States again in 2005 and ordered deported by an immigration judge in 2020 after entering the country illegally a third time, the department said.
This statement provided the first detailed account from Homeland Security after Marine Steve Rios mentioned last week that his father was detained while visiting the Southern California military base. This detention led to Esteban being released with ankle monitors and subsequently detained again when reporting to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office as directed.
Initially, Homeland Security had not provided specifics regarding Esteban Rios' criminal background, stating only that criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the U.S. Following media inquiries, they later released detailed information about his criminal history.
Steve Rios of Oceanside, California, expressed to San Diego station KNSD that his parents inspired him to enlist in the Marines, highlighting their journey from Mexico over 30 years ago and their hardworking nature.
The incident on September 28 involved Steve and his family picking up his sister and her husband from Pendleton—a routine they undertook every weekend during her pregnancy—when ICE officials detained both parents. Esteban was later deported on October 10.
The Rios family maintains that they have no prior criminal records and have pending green card applications sponsored by Steve.
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman from Homeland Security, stated that under the previous administration, individuals who break the law, including Esteban Rios, would face the consequences. However, inquiries from Associated Press about whether Esteban was arrested or charged with a crime were met with a lack of clarity, leaving questions about the true nature of his legal status and history.
