Mirelis Casique's 24-year-old son last communicated with her on Saturday morning from a detention center in Laredo, Texas, informing her of his impending deportation with a group of other Venezuelans, though he was uncertain of their destination. Shortly thereafter, his name vanished from the U.S. immigration authorities' website, and she has not heard from him since.
Ms. Casique expressed her distress, stating, “Now he’s in an abyss with no one to rescue him,” during an interview from her home in Venezuela. The deportation of 238 Venezuelans to El Salvador over the weekend has sparked panic among families concerned that their relatives may have been transferred without due process.
The White House press secretary described the deported men as “terrorists” affiliated with the Tren de Aragua gang, labeling them as “heinous monsters” who had recently been arrested, claiming their removal would save “countless American lives.” However, relatives of some deportees assert that their loved ones have no gang connections.
Images released by the Salvadoran government depicted the men being escorted into a notorious mega-prison, handcuffed and with shaved heads. Ms. Casique has no confirmation that her son, Francisco Javier GarcÃa Casique, is among those deported, but she recognized him in one of the circulated photographs of the deportees, which deepened her sense of injustice.
Neither the U.S. nor Salvadoran governments have disclosed the names of the deportees, and inquiries for confirmation regarding Mr. GarcÃa's status went unanswered. Ms. Casique identified her son by his tattoos and physical characteristics, despite his face not being visible in the photo.
In recent years, a significant number of Venezuelans have migrated to the U.S. due to the ongoing crisis under Nicolás Maduro's government. As Maduro has not accepted regular deportation flights, the Trump administration has sought alternative methods for deporting Venezuelans.
The Venezuelan government condemned the deportation, claiming the U.S. utilized an outdated law to execute an illegal operation that violated both American and international laws. President Trump has focused on the Tren de Aragua gang during his campaign, previously deporting a group of Venezuelans to Guantánamo, asserting they were gang members, a claim disputed by some relatives.
Neither government has provided evidence linking the deportees to Tren de Aragua, which originated in Venezuelan prisons and has expanded throughout Latin America. President Bukele announced that the deportees would be detained for at least a year, participating in labor and workshops under a program called “Zero Idleness.”
Ms. Casique maintains that her son has no gang affiliations and sought asylum in the U.S. after working in Peru for several years. She noted that he sustained injuries during his journey north, falling from a train in Mexico.
Mr. GarcÃa had voluntarily surrendered to U.S. authorities at the border but was detained after immigration officers identified his tattoos. Ms. Casique stated that these tattoos, which include a crown with the word “peace” and family names, led to an investigation that labeled him a suspected gang member.
After two months in a Dallas detention center, a judge ruled that Mr. GarcÃa posed no danger and allowed his release under electronic monitoring. Following President Trump’s inauguration, Mr. GarcÃa grew concerned about his status, but Ms. Casique reassured him that he had nothing to fear, believing the administration would prioritize actual criminals.
However, on February 6, authorities took Mr. GarcÃa into custody, leading Ms. Casique to reflect on her earlier naivety regarding the protections of the law.