Guatemalan landscaper detained, son Army specialist struggles with guilt over border patrol deployment
Aug 8, 2026 · Guatemala

Sebastian Ralios Tino, a Guatemalan landscaper with no known criminal record, was detained in summer 2025 after living in the U.S. for nearly two decades without legal status. His son, U.S. Army Specialist Romero Ralios, enlisted in the military and spent nine months in 2024 deployed to the Joint Task Force Southern Border supporting U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. The detention has left Romero Ralios remorseful about his border enforcement work and unable to sleep, expressing regret over the families he helped separate during his deployment. His commanding officer, Capt. Mohamed Elmaola, told the AP that Ralios is a phenomenal soldier deserving of support for his family.
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