Voto Latino Sounds Alarm as Families Refute Gang Allegations Against Deported Venezuelan Immigrants
Washington, D.C. – Voto Latino expresses deep concern over recent reports of Venezuelan immigrants allegedly being wrongfully deported under the Trump administration, even after their families’ urgent pleas for protection and claims that their loved ones have no gang affiliations.
“Despite a judge’s order to halt the deportation flight, the administration proceeded with the expulsions, denying these individuals their right to due process and undermining the rule of law. We want our country to be safe, but forcibly removing individuals while disregarding a court order sets a dangerous legal precedent and erodes trust in our justice system. Our immigration system must be based on fairness, not fear or political agendas. If we allow the government to ignore court rulings today, it sets a dangerous precedent for all Americans tomorrow.”
As reported by The Washington Post and The Miami Herald, on Thursday, armed officers arrested Venezuelan immigrants at home and took them to a Texas detention center. The detainees, believing they were being returned to Venezuela, signed deportation papers at officers’ requests. However, their loved ones later see a shocking video of the deported men being forcibly removed from a plane in El Salvador.
Families Identify Loved Ones in Disturbing Detention Footage:
The Washington Post – By Silvia Foster-Frau
- “My heart broke in a million pieces. Because my husband is not part of Tren de Aragua. And I couldn’t believe they sent him there.” After so many years together, she knows his expressions, and what she saw on his face was clear. “It was a face of pain,” she said. “Of fear.”
- “Mercedes Yamarte spotted her son. He is kneeling and wearing a ripped black shirt. His head has been shaved. An officer stands behind him. He appears to be wincing. “I didn’t have words,” Mercedes Yamarte said Monday, her voice strained. “I couldn’t speak.””
The Miami Herald – By Syra Ortiz Blanes, Verónica Egui Brito and Claire Healy
- “He was asking for help. And that help didn’t come from the lips. It came from the soul,” said Jare, who asked to be identified by her nickname because she fears for her family’s safety and who added her brother has no previous criminal record. “You know when someone has their soul broken.”
- “He shouldn’t be imprisoned in El Salvador, let alone in a dangerous prison like the one where the Mara Salvatruchas are held,” said Jare, referring to the international criminal organization with roots in El Salvador. “There are many innocent people behind bars. And today, my brother is one of them.”
“The Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act, a centuries-old law never intended for this purpose, to justify these deportations. Instead of addressing legitimate security concerns with targeted and fair measures, the administration has weaponized an outdated policy to scapegoat an entire community—denying them their legal rights in the process.
Voto Latino calls on Congress, civil rights organizations, and the American public to demand accountability. The United States must uphold due process and the rule of law, not discard them when they become inconvenient.”
###
Voto Latino is a civic advocacy organization dedicated to educating and empowering the next generation of Latino voters while working to build a more inclusive and representative democracy. Since its founding, Voto Latino has registered nearly two million voters. In 2024, the organization took legal action to protect voting rights, filing multiple lawsuits in Texas, Arizona, and North Carolina to safeguard access to the ballot ahead of the elections.