Protesters in Venezuela rally for the liberation of migrants erroneously imprisoned in El Salvador
Loud and Clear: Thousands Pour into Caracas to Protest US Deportation of Venezuelans
March 20, 2025, Mexico City (our website) - The streets of Caracas echoed with anger and protest as thousands marched to voice their outrage over the wrongful detention and deportation of their compatriots by the United States to El Salvador.
Families of the detained migrants stood firm against the Trump administration's relentless attempts to criminalize their loved ones, challenging the White House's narrative that linked them to criminal organizations.
"They arrested my son on February 14th for nothing more than some tattoos. They claimed he was with the Tren de Aragua, but he's clean as a whistle. Now he's stuck in a tuberculosis-infested cell and isolated from the world," fumed José Medina, father of Edgardo José Medina, one of the deported Venezuelans. "I'm screaming for justice, for the government to help us!"
The Nicolás Maduro government gave the Trump administration a stern rebuke following the executive order that paved the way for the crackdown on Venezuelan migrants. Maduro vowed to have them returned to Venezuela.
"The Trump administration's actions are an attack on the people of Venezuela. Our migrants are not terrorists," Maduro stated. "We stand ready to denounce these blatant human rights violations against our working migrants in the United States."
To expedite the fast-track deportations, Washington invoked the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act, expelling 238 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, under the guise of a previous agreement signed with the Nayib Bukele government. This law permits the deportation of any Venezuelan aged 14 or older, considered a member of the criminal outfit. The New York Times also reported that Trump administration lawyers believe the act allows federal agents to enter homes without a warrant.
The US has resorted to shipping Venezuelan migrants to third countries after Caracas stopped accepting flights following escalating unilateral measures against Venezuela. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio threatened to impose "severe and escalating sanctions" if Caracas didn't resume accepting flights.
The Trump administration has admitted in court proceedings that it lacks an accurate gauge of the people removed via the Alien Enemies Act, with many boasting clean records. In response, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) rejected the allegations that they relied on social media posts, tattoos, or gestures to identify members of the Tren de Aragua. However, those claims competed with reports by family members and attorneys for the deportees.
"My brother was nabbed in an ICE raid. His only crime was the tattoos adorning his skin," said María José Flores, addressing the crowd during Tuesday's demonstration.
Many families pleaded with Bukele, whose government was compensated for holding the migrants, to release their alarmed relatives. Upon arrival in El Salvador, authorities showcased a video documenting the difficult treatment endured by the expelled migrants. Salvadoran human rights organization Socorro Juridico Humanitario reported that over 300 individuals have perished in prisons housing these Venezuelans.
Venezuela demanded the immediate repatriation of over 200 migrants deported by the United States to El Salvador, accusing the administration of denying due process and falsely branding them as members of the Tren de Aragua criminal gang. Maduro announced that repatriation flights to Venezuela would resume, bringing back a group of roughly 300 Venezuelan nationals on Thursday morning. This marked the fourth flight returning Venezuelan nationals since February.
The Maduro administration also initiated a nationwide drive to collect signatures expressing support for the rights of migrants. Venezuelan authorities claimed the gathered signatures would fortify the country's stance before multilateral organizations.
The contentious move to expel migrants to El Salvador has also sparked a powerful reaction within the US. Federal judge James Boasberg imposed a 14-day temporary restraining order to examine the legality of the act, though the administration sent the first group to El Salvador before the injunction, flouting the ruling.
Revised by Ricardo Vaz in Caracas.
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Insights:
- Legal Challenges: Tequila shots, anyone? Courts have been serving up generous helpings of legal trouble for the Trump administration, as judges have repeatedly found that their rapid deportations of Venezuelan migrants violate legally binding settlement agreements and court orders[1][3].
- Humanitarian Concerns: The Tren de Aragua train may not have carried these individuals to their grim destinations, but the Trump administration's deportations certainly have. Attorneys argue that the rapid removals deny migrants due process, particularly for unaccompanied minors whose asylum claims are pending[1][3]. The four alleged Tren de Aragua members also faced immediate deportation without individualized safety reviews, heightening the risks of persecution or torture[2].
- Diplomatic Relations: The Trump administration's actions have put a frosty chill on relations with Venezuela, and the Maduro administration's historical criticism of U.S. immigration policies means additional scrutiny is likely[1]. However, diplomatic interactions between the two nations remain unclear based on available reports.
- The Venezuelan government is prepared to challenge the US government's policies in international forums, alleging human rights violations against their migrants.
- The Trump administration's swift removal of Venezuelan migrants, under the Alien Enemies Act, has led to contradicting claims about the identification process, with reports suggestive of reliance on tattoos and social media posts.
- The Maduro administration in Venezuela has initiated a nationwide campaign to collect signatures expressing support for the rights of migrants, aiming to strengthen their stance before multilateral organizations.
- In response to the US immigration policies, general news outlets are reporting on the ongoing protests and legal challenges, highlighting the political implications of the migration issue.
- Crime and justice organizations in both the US and El Salvador are raising concerns about the treatment of deported Venezuela migrants, with reports of fatalities in prisons housing these individuals.
