Narciso Barranco, the 48-year-old Tustin landscaper who was violently arrested by immigration agents last month, made his first public appearance Friday – saying he still has hope in the face of widespread deportation efforts.

The arrest, which sparked national headlines, became a pivotal point locally — pushing scores of residents and activists to demand local elected officials to enact protections and create aid funds.

“To the community, I don’t have the words to truly express what I feel in my heart,” Barranco said in Spanish at a Friday news conference in front of the Old County Courthouse in Downtown Santa Ana.

“So I can just say thank you for standing with my family and my children, for not leaving

them alone,” he said.

Barranco also shared a message for the families of his form

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