Protests Erupt Over US Deportations of Venezuelan Migrants to El Salvador
Venezuelan migrants protested following their deportation to El Salvador, claiming deception over their status. The U.S. government argues they are gang members or illegal immigrants, while families assert they were misled about their deportations. The Venezuelan government calls the deportations a kidnapping and seeks legal assistance for their return.
On March 22, families of Venezuelan migrants held protests in Caracas regarding the deportation of over 200 individuals to a Salvadoran prison. These migrants were sent from the U.S. on March 16, with families expressing they were “deceived” into believing they were returning to Venezuela, rather than being sent to a maximum-security facility under the Trump administration’s wartime powers.
The U.S. government claims that the deportees were part of the violent Tren de Aragua gang or illegal immigrants. However, families argue that many were innocent and misled into surrendering. Gladys Coromoto Rojas, the grandmother of a deportee, raised concerns about the misinformation, questioning, “How come so many people said they were coming to Venezuela and today they are in El Salvador?”
The family of 36-year-old Maikel Rojas Olivera reported that he communicated with them about returning to Venezuela on March 22, but ended up in El Salvador instead. His sister demanded their return, stating, “We demand that they bring all those innocent boys from El Salvador to their country.”
In response to this situation, the Venezuelan government has labeled the actions of U.S. authorities as a kidnapping and is taking steps to hire a law firm for the migrants’ repatriation.
The situation surrounding the deportation of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador highlights significant concerns over alleged deception and misinformation from U.S. authorities. Family members advocate for the return of their loved ones, identifying them as innocent individuals ensnared in a political dispute. The Venezuelan government is pursuing legal avenues to address this matter, framing the deportations as a violation of international norms.
Original Source: www.hurriyetdailynews.com
