Who Are Esteban Rios and Luisa Rodriguez? US Marine’s Parents Detained by ICE During California Visit

Esteban Rios and Luisa Rodriguez, longtime residents of Oceanside, California, are the parents of a U.S. Marine whose story has sparked outrage after they were detained by federal immigration agents during a visit to Camp Pendleton. The couple was attempting to visit their pregnant daughter, who is married to another Marine stationed at the base, when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents took them into custody.

The incident has drawn national attention, raising questions about immigration enforcement policies and their impact on military families. According to NBC 7 San Diego, the couple was initially released with ankle monitors but were later detained again, with Rios ultimately being deported despite having pending legal immigration applications.

Background: Who Are Esteban Rios and Luisa Rodriguez?

Esteban Rios and Luisa Rodriguez have lived in the United States for more than 30 years after arriving from Mexico. During that time, they worked tirelessly — washing cars, cleaning homes, and building a life for their family in Southern California. Their son, Steve Rios, credits his parents as the inspiration for his decision to serve in the U.S. military.

“It was just making them proud,” Steve said in an interview. “I’ve seen all the struggles they’ve gone through. The least I could do was serve this country and put some time in.”

The couple’s daughter, Ashley Rios, who was waiting for them at Camp Pendleton, described the emotional moment she learned of their detention. “My brother texted me that they got stopped. As soon as I heard that, I just started bawling,” she recalled. “I told my husband, ‘My parents are getting taken.’”

Despite living in the United States for decades, Rios and Rodriguez do not yet have permanent legal status. Both have pending green card applications — sponsored by their son — and hold valid work permits while awaiting approval. The family has stressed that neither parent has a criminal record.

What Happened During the ICE Detention?

According to reports, the couple was initially detained while trying to enter Camp Pendleton. They were taken to a federal building in downtown San Diego, where they were processed and later released with ankle monitors. However, when they returned for a scheduled ICE check-in, they were detained again.

At the time of his arrest, Esteban Rios was wearing a red shirt and a white hat that read “Proud dad of a U.S. Marine.” He and Rodriguez were eventually transferred to the Otay Mesa Detention Center. Rios was later deported from the United States, leaving his family behind.

ICE issued a statement defending its actions, saying, “As part of its routine operations, ICE arrests aliens who commit crimes and other individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws. 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.”

Family Reaction and Broader Impact

The detention and deportation of Rios and Rodriguez have caused deep distress for their family, particularly as their daughter prepares to give birth. Ashley expressed heartbreak at the prospect of her parents missing the birth of their grandchild. “It’s just hard because you just want to hear your parents’ voice, that everything will be OK,” she said. “I’d always want my mom in that delivery room, so it’s just hard to think about them not being there.”

The case has also fueled broader conversations about how immigration enforcement intersects with military families — many of whom include undocumented or mixed-status relatives. Advocates argue that detaining and deporting the parents of service members undermines the sacrifices those families make for the country.

For now, the Rios family faces an uncertain future. While Luisa Rodriguez remains in the U.S. under supervision, Esteban’s deportation has created emotional and logistical challenges that may take years to resolve. The family continues to hope that pending immigration cases will ultimately allow them to reunite and live together legally in the country they have called home for over three decades.

Esteban Rios and Luisa Rodriguez’s story highlights the complex realities many immigrant families face — even those with deep ties to the U.S. military. Their detention and separation underscore the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement and its far-reaching human consequences.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: Who are Esteban Rios and Luisa Rodriguez?

They are longtime residents of Oceanside, California, and parents of a U.S. Marine. Both came from Mexico more than 30 years ago and have pending green card applications.

Q2: Why were they detained by ICE?

They were detained during a visit to their pregnant daughter at Camp Pendleton for violating immigration laws. Rios was later deported despite having no criminal record.

Q3: What is their immigration status?

Both have pending green card applications sponsored by their son, along with valid work permits, but they are not yet legal permanent residents.

Q4: How has the family reacted?

Their children, including a U.S. Marine and a pregnant daughter, have expressed heartbreak and frustration over the detention and separation.

Q5: Where were they taken after detention?

They were initially held in a federal building, then moved to Otay Mesa Detention Center. Esteban Rios was later deported from the United States.