Relatives of Francisco Javier García Casique contest the U.S. claims that deported Venezuelans are criminals, insisting he is innocent. His deportation to El Salvador, a country with a notorious prison system, shocked his family. Many Venezuelan migrants are wrongfully labeled as gang members based on tattoos. Advocates criticize this unjust treatment and call for a reassessment of these deportations and the human rights implications involved.
The family of Francisco Javier García Casique, a 24-year-old Venezuelan migrant, is contesting allegations from Donald Trump’s administration that those deported to El Salvador are dangerous criminals. Contrary to such claims, relatives maintain that he was a dedicated hairdresser, emphasizing his innocence. His brother, Sebastián, expressed, “He has never been in prison, he is innocent, and he has always supported us with his work as a barber.”
Francisco’s plight escalated when he was unexpectedly deported to a prison in El Salvador, notorious for harboring violent offenders. Prior to his deportation, he was preparing to return to Venezuela following his arrest at an immigration facility on March 2. Instead, a video posted by El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele portrayed the mass deportations as a spectacle, showing numerous detainees being led into custody, an image that shocked Francisco’s family. “It is very painful because he is innocent,” Sebastián lamented after recognizing his brother among the prisoners.
Lindsay Toczylowski, an immigration attorney, echoed the sentiment of disbelief and horror. She described her reaction upon seeing deported individuals, including her client, portrayed in a humiliating manner and emphasized this escalation of human rights abuses. “It really is such an escalation… and to see it paraded and celebrated by the White House and by Bukele was just an absolutely shocking escalation of human rights abuses against migrants,” she stated.
Furthermore, more than 260 Venezuelans were deported to El Salvador during the last weekend, often based solely on the presumption of gang affiliation derived from tattoos. Experts argue that such assumptions are unfounded, contending that tattoos do not necessarily indicate gang connections. Francisco’s tattoos, inspired by personal experiences, including one with a verse from the Book of Isaiah, have been wrongfully interpreted as evidence of gang membership.
Families are speaking out against the unjust deportations. Mercedes Yamarte described her son Mervin as a hardworking individual with no criminal past, despite his tattoos leading to wrongful assumptions by U.S. authorities. Yamarte’s brother, Francis Varela, criticized the erroneous accusations, asserting, “Everyone close to him knows he has a big heart and NOTHING TO DO WITH TREN DE ARAGUA.”
Advocates for migrants continue to express outrage over cases like Francisco’s, highlighting the lack of due process. Adam Isacson, a migration expert, emphasized the unprecedented nature of sending deported individuals to prisons in authoritarian regimes, stating, “We’re in brand new ground here,” and noted the possibility that many of those deported do not have criminal backgrounds.
Sebastián has maintained a plea for justice, insisting on his brother’s innocence and asking Trump to reconsider his case. He stated, “I believe this is an injustice… The innocent should be sent to Venezuela… What is he doing in El Salvador if he committed no crime there?”
The deportation of Francisco Javier García Casique and others like him has sparked outrage due to their unjust treatment and the allegations made by the U.S. administration. Families assert their loved ones are innocent, victims of erroneous assumptions regarding gang affiliations. This situation highlights the alarming escalation of human rights abuses directed towards migrants and raises concerns regarding due process in deportation cases, emphasizing a need for re-evaluation of these policies by authorities.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
