Post by : Badri Ariffin

A group of Venezuelan men, deported to El Salvador by the U.S. earlier this year and held in a high-security facility, are now calling for justice following a federal ruling that mandates their legal due process.

At a press conference hosted in Caracas on Friday, the men expressed their intention to seek assistance from international human rights organizations and legal entities to contest their treatment and exonerate themselves. This event was organized with support from the Venezuelan government, which advocates for these migrants’ legal actions.

On Monday, a federal judge in Washington mandated that the U.S. government must ensure due process for 252 Venezuelan men transferred earlier in the year to El Salvador. The ruling states that these individuals must either have access to court hearings to dispute their deportation or be returned to the U.S.

This decision signifies a legal opportunity for them to contest claims made by the past Trump administration, which alleged connections to the criminal organization Tren de Aragua, using an 18th-century wartime law as justification for deportation. The migrants have persistently denied any involvement with gangs.

Several men recounted experiencing severe maltreatment while imprisoned in El Salvador, a facility that has faced international scrutiny for its conditions.

“We are here demanding justice for the human rights violations we have faced,” stated Andry Blanco. “We urge international organizations to help us ensure our rights are upheld and never violated again.”

About two dozen former prisoners were present at the press briefing. Many shared how their incarceration continues to impact their lives, stating that they now live in fear of stepping outside or encountering law enforcement due to the trauma endured.

The group did not specify particular justice demands and several indicated they do not wish to return to the U.S. “I don’t trust them,” remarked Nolberto Aguilar, referencing the U.S. government.

The men were initially flown to El Salvador in March and returned to Venezuela in July amid a prisoner swap between the Trump administration and Nicolás Maduro's government.

Camilla Fabri, Venezuela’s vice minister of foreign affairs for international communications, stated that the Maduro government is collaborating with a U.S.-based bar association and various human rights groups to file a significant lawsuit against the U.S. government.

“Our aim is for the United States to acknowledge the crimes committed against these individuals,” stated Fabri, emphasizing that they are pursuing legal action to hold the responsible parties accountable under international standards.

#Global News