Venezuelan Migrants Call for Accountability Following US Deportation Ruling

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

A group of Venezuelan men, recently deported to El Salvador from the United States, have called for justice following a federal ruling mandating their legal rights. These men were placed in a high-security facility after their deportation and are now advocating for their case to be heard.

At a press conference in Caracas, they expressed their intention to seek assistance from international human rights and legal organizations for the reclamation of their rights, with the support of the Venezuelan government, which is backing their legal efforts.

A federal judge in Washington decreed that 252 Venezuelan men, who were relocated to El Salvador earlier this year, must have legal representation to challenge their deportation or be returned to the US.

This ruling allows the migrants to counter claims made by the previous US administration, which accused them of being affiliated with the criminal gang Tren de Aragua, seeking to justify their deportation under an antiquated wartime statute. The deportees have vehemently denied any connections to gang activity.

Many detained have recounted severe treatment during their confinement in a Salvadoran prison notorious for its brutal conditions, which has attracted international condemnation.

“We are here to demand justice for what was done to us,” Andry Blanco remarked. “We urge international entities to assist us in ensuring our rights are respected moving forward.”

Approximately 20 former detainees were present at the conference, sharing how their prison experiences have left them in a state of anxiety and fear, affecting their daily routines.

While they pressed for justice, some expressed reluctance to ever return to the US. “I do not trust them,” said Nolberto Aguilar, regarding the US government.

The group was transferred to El Salvador in March and returned to Venezuela in July as part of a prisoner exchange arrangement between the Trump administration and President Nicolás Maduro's government.

Camilla Fabri, Venezuela’s vice minister of foreign affairs for international communication, indicated that the Maduro administration is collaborating with a US bar association and various human rights organizations to develop a significant legal case against the US government.

“We aim to have the United States recognize the injustices faced by these men,” Fabri stated, confirming their pursuit of accountability under international law.