In Houston, Texas, a group of attorneys is raising concerns regarding the case of Widmer Agelviz-Sanguino, a Venezuelan refugee who vanished from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody earlier this year.
The attorneys are seeking answers from the federal government about Sanguino’s whereabouts, with a federal judge demanding that both ICE and the Department of Homeland Security verify his location and restore communication with his legal counsel.
Sanguino, along with his two younger brothers and mother, left Ecuador for Houston in September. Upon their arrival, trouble arose when Agelviz-Sanguino was detained after being accused of having connections with the Venezuelan gang Tren De Aragua.
His attorney, Javier Rivera, noted that he was initially taken to the Montgomery County ICE processing Center after being arrested at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.
“It would be tremendously beneficial just to have the ability to speak to him,” Rivera stated.
Rivera has since filed a lawsuit, arguing that the U.S. government unlawfully removed Sanguino, violating his due process rights.
According to Rivera, Sanguino and his family were admitted to the United States through a United Nations refugee resettlement program after undergoing vetting in Ecuador. They were granted permission to travel, only for Sanguino to face accusations and threats of deportation upon their arrival.
Rivera described the distressing predicament: “After being invited and provided with travel documents to come to the United States, he was arrested at the airport. He was labeled a gang member and told he would be deported back to the very place he fears the most.”
One point of contention has been Sanguino’s tattoos, which border agents connected to gang membership. Rivera explained that Sanguino’s tattoos bear personal significance; for example, the rose honors his grandmother, while the owl and clock symbolize his hometown.
Following his arrest, Sanguino was taken into custody by ICE, where he later attempted to file for asylum after being informed he could not engage in the refugee resettlement program.
In March, just days before an expected decision on his case, his attorneys believe he was covertly transferred from the Montgomery County facility and deported to El Salvador, specifically to a prison called CECOT. Since then, there has been no communication from Sanguino.
Attorneys and family members reported that they discovered his name on a list of individuals deported to CECOT through media channels, which has heightened their concern for his safety.
Sanguino’s legal representative, Angel Rivera, emphasized that he lacks any criminal history, asserting, “He has never been charged with any crimes in Venezuela, Ecuador, or anywhere else in the world.”
The last communication from Sanguino occurred around March 10 or 11, when he expressed feeling scared. Rivera mentioned that Sanguino was flown to CECOT shortly thereafter.
As of now, it is May, and both Sanguino’s family and attorneys have received no concrete information regarding his status or well-being, raising serious questions about the handling of his case by immigration authorities.
The Riveras remain relentless in their pursuit of understanding what transpired with Sanguino, hoping for his return and a resolution to his alarming case.
image source from：https://abc13.com/post/us-government-ordered-grant-houston-attorneys-access-where-venezuelan-refugee-was-taken-disappearing-ice/16498932/
