A group of lawyers is working for the families of 30 Venezuelans who were sent to a large prison in El Salvador by the United States. They have asked the Salvadoran Supreme Court to check if these detentions are legal. One of the lawyers, Jaime Ortega, mentioned that they were hired by the government led by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Their aim is to challenge the detentions of these individuals, as well as others—up to 238 Venezuelans—deported under orders from former President Donald Trump.
Ortega wants the court to decide if the detentions are unlawful. If the court agrees, he believes those affected should be released immediately. Meanwhile, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele claimed that the U.S. sent migrants suspected of being part of a criminal group, Tren de Aragua. However, he didn’t provide any evidence to back this up. It’s essential to note that U.S. authorities have recognized that not all deportees had criminal records.
During his administration, Trump deported 137 Venezuelans using the Alien Enemies Act, something typically reserved for wartime. This act is now under scrutiny in U.S. courts. The lawyers in El Salvador hope that if the Supreme Court rules these detentions fall under immigration issues, it might lead to the deportees being sent back home. The judges, however, lack a specific timeline to resolve the case.
Human rights experts are concerned. Juan Pappier from Human Rights Watch mentioned that expecting the court to act against Bukele’s government is “unrealistic.” He empathized with the families, encouraging them to explore any legal options available to them, but he cautioned that the Salvadoran Supreme Court has lost its independence.
Pappier also highlighted that deporting individuals to places where they could face torture or severe human rights abuses contradicts United Nations principles. This situation has sparked discussions on social media, where many users voice their concern for the deportees’ safety and human rights.
In a response to this crisis, the Salvadoran National Commission on Human Rights and Freedom of Expression has informed CNN that families can petition for the detainees’ release. As of now, they have received seven requests for review, and officials have promised to process these cases.
For more in-depth information on human rights issues related to deportation practices, you can visit the Human Rights Watch report for the latest insights.
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