A protest in Caracas arose from families of Venezuelan migrants feeling misled about deportations to El Salvador. Over 200 migrants were sent to a Salvadoran prison under U.S. claims of gang affiliations. Families argue many are innocent and demand their return, labeling the action as kidnapping. The Venezuelan government is pursuing legal means to bring the deportees home.
On March 22, relatives of Venezuelan migrants protested in Caracas, expressing their outrage over deportations to a Salvadoran prison. They joined other families who feel misled, believing their loved ones were being returned to Venezuela. On March 16, over 200 Venezuelans were forcibly relocated to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador after being labeled alleged gang members by the U.S. government. This action, taken under wartime powers by President Donald Trump, has led to a complicated legal situation in Washington.
The Trump administration maintains that the 238 individuals involved were affiliated with the dangerous Tren de Aragua gang, or were otherwise illegal immigrants. However, families assert that many of those deported had no criminal records and were misled into surrendering. “How come so many people said they were coming to Venezuela and today they are in El Salvador?” questioned Gladys Coromoto Rojas, a concerned grandmother.
One family member shared that Maikel Rojas Olivera was in communication about his return to Venezuela on March 22, only to discover he had been sent to El Salvador. His sister demanded justice, stating, “We demand that they bring all those innocent boys from El Salvador to their country.”
In response, the Venezuelan government has denounced the deportations as a form of kidnapping and is seeking legal assistance to facilitate the safe return of those migrants to Venezuela.
The protests reflect a significant outcry from families of Venezuelan migrants who believe their loved ones were deceived regarding their deportations to El Salvador. Despite the U.S. government’s characterization of the individuals as criminals, their relatives maintain that many are innocent. The Venezuelan government’s response indicates a commitment to addressing what it views as an unjust situation, emphasizing the need for legal recourse for the affected migrants.
Original Source: www.hurriyetdailynews.com
