Recent investigations have brought to light alarming inconsistencies in the U.S. government’s treatment of Venezuelan migrants, particularly those sent to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador.
In mid-March, 238 Venezuelan migrants were deported, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) categorized many of them as terrorists, even though internal records indicate that most had not been convicted of any crime in the United States.
Documents obtained by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune reveal that, contrary to the administration’s claims, only 32 of those deported had been convicted of crimes in the U.S., with many of these offenses being minor and nonviolent.
President Donald Trump and his aides have frequently used inflammatory language to describe migrants, labeling them as “rapists,” “savages,” and “monsters.”
When news outlets questioned these labels by reporting on the lack of significant criminal records among the deported individuals, the administration claimed their assessments were based on careful vetting that included evaluations of past crimes, both within the U.S. and abroad.
However, official records show that the government knew of only six individuals who had been convicted of violent crimes, such as assault and weapons possession.
Importantly, it was documented that 130 of the deportees had no criminal records or charges pending in the United States, as they were simply labeled as violators of immigration laws.
An investigation into the migrants’ backgrounds indicated that only 20 out of the 238 individuals had arrests or convictions abroad, with many cases not correlating to violent crimes.
This discovery has raised significant questions about the accuracy of the government’s characterization of the deportees.
The rapid removal and detention of these migrants in a foreign prison is unprecedented, and legal battles are ongoing regarding President Trump’s authority to deport individuals without court proceedings.
There are concerns that the administration may suspend habeas corpus rights, a fundamental constitutional protection that allows detainees to contest their detention legally.
Hours before the deportation, government officials justified the removals under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, without presenting evidence to support the claim of connection to the violent gang Tren de Aragua.
This gang was deemed a foreign terrorist organization, enabling the president to expel its members and detain them indefinitely in El Salvador, where they have been held for more than two months without communication with families or legal counsel.
Legal experts, including Lee Gelernt from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), describe these actions as gross violations of due process.
According to Gelernt, while migrants who have committed crimes can face deportation, being subjected to indefinite detention in a foreign prison without due process is unacceptable.
In response to the reported findings, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson criticized ProPublica’s reporting, asserting that it serves the interests of “criminal foreign illegals” who pose a threat to the country.
She contended that the American public supports President Trump’s immigration policies.
Furthermore, Deputy DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin reiterated the government’s stance that the deportees are dangerous, despite lacking concrete evidence to support this allegation.
Our findings confirmed that 158 of the migrants in El Salvador have tattoos, which the government cited as indicative of gang affiliation.
However, police experts on Tren de Aragua have warned that tattoos are not reliable indicators of gang membership.
Additionally, a U.S. intelligence analysis suggested that Tren de Aragua does not operate under the directives of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a claim that led to the dismissal of the report’s authors by Tulsi Gabbard during her tenure as Director of National Intelligence.
Our investigation into the deportation of the 238 Venezuelans revealed that many were unaware they were being sent to a foreign prison.
Interviews with their families indicate that, just hours prior to the deportation, the migrants believed they were returning home to Venezuela to reunite with loved ones.
For example, Leonardo José Colmenares Solórzano, a 31-year-old youth soccer coach, was excited to return home after enduring challenges in Venezuela’s economic crisis.
Despite having no documented criminal history in either the U.S. or Venezuela, he was detained in October due to visible tattoos, which included personal tributes to family and a symbol of his favorite football club.
His sister described his deportation as a form of kidnapping by the U.S. government, bringing considerable distress to the family.
Internal DHS documents indicate that the majority of the deportees were automatically labeled as members of Tren de Aragua without substantial justification.
While some had faced pending criminal charges, the majority of these allegations involved nonviolent offenses like shoplifting and traffic violations.
Out of the 67 individuals recorded with pending criminal charges, only a handful were charged with serious crimes such as assault or attempted murder.
One notable case is Wilker Miguel Gutiérrez Sierra, who faced attempted murder charges after an altercation in Chicago.
He was arrested while awaiting trial but was swiftly deported to El Salvador without due consideration of his case.
Multiple sources have pointed out the discrepancies between official narratives and the available evidence, calling into question the U.S. government’s approach to immigration enforcement.
This situation highlights the urgent need for accountability and adherence to due process in the context of immigration and deportation policies.
Advocates and legal experts are pressing for reforms to ensure that vulnerable populations are protected and that deportations are handled through fair processes.
As the situation stands, the deportation of Venezuelan migrants represents a troubling intersection of immigration policy, human rights concerns, and the legal principles that govern treatment of individuals within the United States.
image source from：caracaschronicles
