U.S. Deportation of Venezuelans to El Salvador Sparks Legal and Family Outcry

More than 200 Venezuelan migrants were deported to El Salvador from the U.S., leading to protests and claims of deception by their families. The deportation, justified by the Trump administration as a measure against gang members, has been criticized widely and described as a kidnapping by Venezuelan authorities. The families are demanding the return of their innocent relatives and a legal battle is underway.

On March 16, over 200 Venezuelan migrants were deported from the United States to a high-security prison in El Salvador, igniting protests and legal disputes. This action occurred after President Trump utilized wartime powers to expel alleged gang members. The deportation has drawn a strong backlash both in Washington, with a judge attempting to halt deportation flights, and among families in Venezuela, who express deep anger and concern for their loved ones.

The Trump administration asserts that the 238 individuals deported were affiliated with the Tren de Aragua gang, or were illegal immigrants. Conversely, relatives argue that many of those sent to El Salvador were innocent and had been misled into surrendering under the impression they were returning to Venezuela. At a protest in Barquisimeto, Gladys Coromoto Rojas, whose grandson is among the deportees, emphasized that they were “deceived.”

Family members recounted their communication with deportees, like 36-year-old Maikel Rojas Olivera, who believed he was returning home, only to find himself in a foreign prison. After being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in October, he was moved to El Salvador without trial. His sister voiced the family’s demand for his return, declaring, “We demand that they bring all those innocent boys from El Salvador to their country.”

Approximately 80 individuals, comprising relatives and neighbors of the deported migrants, attended the protest. The Venezuelan government has condemned the deportations, labeling them a kidnapping. They have enlisted a law firm to facilitate the return of the affected individuals to Venezuela.

The deportation of over 200 Venezuelans to El Salvador has sparked significant outrage, highlighting the complexities of immigration enforcement and the treatment of migrants. Families claim that the deportees were misled, while the U.S. government defends the action as necessary for national security. The situation continues to evolve as protests persist and legal challenges are pursued, with the Venezuelan government taking steps to assist those affected in returning home.

Original Source: www.firstpost.com