Man With Daughter's Name Tattooed Deported to El Salvador
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The mother of a 25-year-old Venezuelan man deported to El Salvador's notorious super prison has told Newsweek of the "heartbreaking" moment she recognized her son was among those deported.
Olfran Alejandro Escobar Falcón, who had been living in the United States with his partner and their daughter, was initially detained after turning himself in at the U.S.-Mexico border in December 2023.
He had filed for asylum but was detained shortly thereafter. His family says he has no criminal record in either Venezuela or the United States, but a judge informed him he had been flagged as a suspected member of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA).
His family says they think his tattoos were the likely reason for his identification as a member of TdA. Among these tattoos was one featuring his daughter's name and another commemorating the date he and his partner met, represented by a ship's wheel.
Olfran Alejandro Escobar Falcón seen in El Salvador's notorious super prison.
Olfran Alejandro Escobar Falcón seen in El Salvador's notorious super prison.
Supplied
"He didn't wear earrings, baggy clothes, or flashy hairstyles. He was responsible, down-to-earth, and dressed simply," Maria said.
"Very mature, very responsible. He's always worked hard," she added.
Falcón was initially taken into custody as he left his job at a laundromat and later transferred to a detention center in Pennsylvania.
His case, documented by Human Rights Watch, has brought renewed attention to concerns from critics over the erosion of due process rights for migrants under President Donald Trump's administration.
"Falcón was in a group of Venezuelans removed to El Salvador under Title 50 (Aliens Enemy Act) and was therefore destined for CECOT," a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland told Newsweek.
The Trump administration deported over 200 immigrants to the Central American country in two separate flights after securing a deal with El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, which involved paying the nation's government millions of dollars to imprison migrants.
Escobar's partner remains in the United States with their young daughter, who was born in Colombia. The couple had lived in Colombia for six years before moving to the U.S.
Inmates remain in a cell at the Counter-Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT) mega-prison, where hundreds of members of the MS-13 and 18 Street gangs are being held, in Tecoluca, El Salvador, on January 27, 2025.
Inmates remain in a cell at the Counter-Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT) mega-prison, where hundreds of members of the MS-13 and 18 Street gangs are being held, in Tecoluca, El Salvador, on January 27, 2025.
Marvin Recinos/Getty
On March 14, 2025, María said she had her last conversation with her son. Escobar called to tell her he and others were being processed for deportation. "He said we might see each other soon in Venezuela," she recounted.
The next day, he called his partner and told her they were returning their belongings.
"He told her to take care of their daughter," María said. Concerned, she contacted Escobar's father in Venezuela and asked him to check the Caracas airport, but officials denied any scheduled deportation flights.
After that call, all communication ceased.
A few days later, María was devastated to find Escobar's name on a list of deported individuals. She recognized him in a CBS News photo, handcuffed and wearing a gray jumpsuit as he was transferred to El Salvador. "It's been very hard. I was in shock for two months," she said.
Since then, María has been in contact with a lawyer and several advocacy organizations, including Juntos y Libres in El Salvador and Human Rights Watch, as she seeks answers about her son's situation.
Escobar has a court hearing scheduled for June 2, which will be critical in determining his legal options and next steps in challenging his deportation.
When asked what she would say to Trump or Bukele, María responded with a direct message to the two leaders. "I'm not God to judge, but I hope they take a moment to investigate who my son is. As I've said and shown in interviews, he has no criminal record. I hope they realize the pain they're causing this family. I want him to have a chance to leave that terrifying place."
"I hope this helps reveal the truth and brings me back to my son as soon as possible," Maria said.
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