Maduro Denounces U.S. Deportation of Venezuelan Migrants as Kidnapping

President Nicolás Maduro condemned the U.S. deportation of over 200 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador as a ‘kidnapping.’ He stated that these individuals are not criminals and announced plans to collect signatures for their return. Amid protests in Venezuela, the deportation is linked to allegations of gang affiliations, which lack substantiation. Maduro pledged to repatriate all detained Venezuelan migrants with dignity and respect.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro condemned the recent deportation of over 200 Venezuelan migrants by the United States, labeling the act as a “kidnapping.” He asserted that these individuals are not criminals and called upon El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to refrain from complicity in this situation. Maduro emphasized that the deportees were not given a fair trial or legal defense, likening their treatment to that of individuals sent to a concentration camp.

Maduro announced plans for his government to officially request the return of the deported individuals, supported by millions of signatures from Venezuelan citizens. The deportees were sent to El Salvador’s Counter-Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a facility known for its harsh treatment of inmates. The U.S. claims that these individuals are connected to the Tren de Aragua gang, despite a court ruling against the deportation, a statement that has intensified tensions between the two nations.

Mass protests erupted in Caracas from families of the deportees, who demanded their loved ones be returned home. Maduro expressed solidarity with the families and asserted that public support for their release is growing. The Administration of President Donald Trump defended the deportations as necessary due to allegations of an “invasion” of migrants, branding those deported as “a bad group of, as I say, hombres.”

Despite claims by U.S. authorities connecting the deportees to criminal activities, the specifics remain unverified. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency mentioned they conducted checks on the deportees but did not disclose their identities. Some former deportees, like Daniel Simancas Rodríguez, shared experiences indicating wrongful suspicions based on their appearances.

As a response to the deportations, President Maduro has directed his government to facilitate the repatriation of detained migrants, emphasizing the need to treat them with respect and dignity. He expressed a commitment to reunite families and restore the rights of Venezuelan citizens affected by these actions. Correspondence has been initiated by CNN with the Governments of El Salvador and the United States for further comment.

In summary, President Nicolás Maduro has vehemently opposed the U.S. deportation of Venezuelan migrants, claiming it constitutes a kidnapping devoid of due process. The Venezuelan government plans to lodge formal requests for the return of these individuals, while mass protests in Venezuela have voiced familial concerns over their loved ones’ treatment. With rising tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela due to these deportations, both domestic and international scrutiny on the matter is expected to continue.

Original Source: www.cnn.com