Supporters of deported Venezuelans denied visit to Salvadoran jail
Supporters of Venezuelans deported by the United States to El Salvador said Friday they had been refused permission to see the migrants in prison.
The spurned group included the first family member of a detainee to come to the Central American nation in hopes of establishing contact with them.
More than 250 Venezuelans were expelled by the United States to El Salvador in March after being accused of being members of the Tren de Aragua criminal gang.
"I came with great hope," Jhoanna Sanguino, the aunt of 24-year-old Widmer Agelvis Sanguino, told AFP shortly before leaving El Salvador.
"I promised my sister that her boy would soon be free, and I promised many mothers. I don't want them to lose faith. We were so close, yet so far away," she said.
Sanguino was accompanied by Reina Cardenas, a friend of deportee Andry Hernandez Romero, and activists from the Amparo Foundation, a human rights NGO providing legal support to some of the Venezuelans.
They said their request to visit the migrants in the high-security CECOT prison built by President Nayib Bukele to house gang members was unsuccessful.
US President Donald Trump invoked rarely used wartime laws to fly many of the migrants to El Salvador without holding any court hearings.
His administration struck a deal to pay the government of ally Bukele millions of dollars to hold the deportees in prison.
"There are 252 Venezuelans whose families are crying and fighting for them," said Sanguino.
Relatives are waiting in Venezuela for "some contact, by phone or a letter, some proof of life," she said.
A law firm hired by Caracas to represent some of the other detained Venezuelans also says that it has been denied access.
mis/fj/dr/acb
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
an hour ago
Nicaragua's former President Violeta Chamorro dies at 95, family says
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica -- Violeta Chamorro, an unassuming homemaker who was thrust into politics by her husband's assassination and stunned the world by ousting the ruling Sandinista party in presidential elections and ending Nicaragua 's civil war, has died, her family said in a statement on Saturday. She was 95. The country's first female president, known as Doña Violeta to both supporters and detractors, she presided over the Central American nation's uneasy transition to peace after nearly a decade of conflict between the Sandinista government of Daniel Ortega and U.S.-backed Contra rebels. At nearly seven years, Chamorro's was the longest single term ever served by a democratically elected Nicaraguan leader, and when it was over she handed over the presidential sash to an elected civilian successor — a relative rarity for a country with a long history of strongman rule, revolution and deep political polarization. Chamorro died in San Jose, Costa Rica, according to the family's statement shared by her son, Carlos Fernando Chamorro, on X. 'Doña Violeta died peacefully, surrounded by the affection and love of her children and those who had provided her with extraordinary care, and now she finds herself in the peace of the Lord,' the statement said. A religious ceremony was being planned in San Jose. Her remains will be held in Costa Rica 'until Nicaragua returns to being a Republic,' the statement said. In more recent years, the family had been driven into exile in Costa Rica like hundreds of thousands of other Nicaraguans fleeing the repression of Ortega. Violeta Chamorro's daughter, Cristiana Chamorro, was held under house arrest for months in Nicaragua and then convicted of money laundering and other charges as Ortega moved to clear the field of challengers as he sought reelection. The Violeta Barrios de Chamorro Foundation closed its operations in Nicaragua in January 2021, as thousands of nongovernmental organizations have been forced to do since because Ortega has worked to silence any critical voices. It had provided training for journalists, helped finance journalistic outlets and defended freedom of expression. Born Violeta Barrios Torres on Oct. 18, 1929, in the southwestern city of Rivas, Chamorro had little by way of preparation for the public eye. The eldest daughter of a landowning family, she was sent to U.S. finishing schools. After her father's death in 1948, she returned to the family home and married Pedro Joaquin Chamorro, who soon became editor and publisher of the family newspaper, La Prensa, following his own father's death. He penned editorials denouncing the abuses of the regime of Gen. Anastasio Somoza, whose family had ruled Nicaragua for four decades, and was gunned down on a Managua street in January 1978. The killing, widely believed to have been ordered by Somoza, galvanized the opposition and fueled the popular revolt led by Ortega's Sandinista National Liberation Front that toppled the dictator in July 1979. Chamorro herself acknowledged that she had little ambition beyond raising her four children before her husband's assassination. She said she was in Miami shopping for a wedding dress for one of her daughters when she heard the news. Still, Chamorro took over publishing La Prensa and also became a member of the junta that replaced Somoza. She quit just nine months later as the Sandinistas exerted their dominance and built a socialist government aligned with Cuba and the Soviet Union and at odds with the United States amid the Cold War. La Prensa became a leading voice of opposition to the Sandinistas and the focus of regular harassment by government supporters who accused the paper of being part of Washington's efforts — along with U.S.-financed rebels, dubbed 'Contras' by the Sandinistas for their counterrevolutionary fight — to undermine the leftist regime. Chamorro later recounted bitter memories of what she considered the Sandinistas' betrayal of her husband's democratic goals and her own faith in the anti-Somoza revolution. 'I'm not praising Somoza's government. It was horrible. But the threats that I've had from the Sandinistas — I never thought they would repay me in that way,' she said. Chamorro saw her own family divided by the country's politics. Son Pedro Joaquin became a leader of the Contras, and daughter Cristiana worked as an editor at La Prensa. But another son, Carlos Fernando, and Chamorro's eldest daughter, Claudia, were militant Sandinistas. By 1990 Nicaragua was in tatters. The economy was in shambles thanks to a U.S. trade embargo, Sandinista mismanagement and war. Some 30,000 people had died in the fighting between the Contras and Sandinistas. When a coalition of 14 opposition parties nominated an initially reluctant Chamorro as their candidate in the presidential election called for February that year, few gave her much chance against the Sandinista incumbent, Ortega. Even after months of campaigning, she stumbled over speeches and made baffling blunders. Suffering from osteoporosis, a disease that weakens the bones, she broke her knee in a household fall and spent much of the campaign in a wheelchair. But elegant, silver-haired and dressed almost exclusively in white, she connected with many Nicaraguans tired of war and hardship. Her maternal image, coupled with promises of reconciliation and an end to the military draft, contrasted with Ortega's swagger and revolutionary rhetoric. 'I bring the flag of love,' she told a rally shortly before the vote. 'Hatred has only brought us war and hunger. With love will come peace and progress.' She shocked the Sandinistas and the world by handily winning the election, hailing her victory as the fulfillment of her late husband's vision. 'We knew that in a free election we would achieve a democratic republic of the kind Pedro Joaquin always dreamed,' Chamorro said. Washington lifted trade sanctions and promised aid to rebuild the nation's ravaged economy, and by June the 19,000-strong Contra army had been disbanded, formally ending an eight-year war. Chamorro had little else to celebrate during her first months in office. In the two months between the election and her inauguration, the Sandinistas looted the government, signing over government vehicles and houses to militants in a giveaway that became popularly known as 'the pinata.' Her plans to stabilize the hyperinflation-wracked economy with free-market reforms were met with stiff opposition from the Sandinistas, who had the loyalty of most of the country's organized labor. Chamorro's first 100 days in power were marred by two general strikes, the second of which led to street battles between protesters and government supporters. To restore order Chamorro called on the Sandinista-dominated army, testing the loyalty of the force led by Gen. Humberto Ortega, Daniel Ortega's older brother. The army took to the streets but did not act against the strikers. Chamorro was forced into negotiations, broadening the growing rift between moderates and hardliners in her government. Eventually her vice president, Virgilio Godoy, became one over her most vocal critics. Nicaraguans hoping that Chamorro's election would quickly bring stability and economic progress were disappointed. Within a year some former Contras had taken up arms again, saying they were being persecuted by security forces still largely controlled by the Sandinistas. Few investors were willing to gamble on a destitute country with a volatile workforce, while foreign volunteers who had been willing to pick coffee and cotton in support of the Sandinistas had long departed. 'What more do you want than to have the war ended?' Chamorro said after a year in office. Chamorro was unable to undo Nicaragua's dire poverty. By the end of her administration in early 1997, unemployment was measured at over 50 percent, while crime, drug abuse and prostitution — practically unheard of during the Sandinista years — soared. That year she handed the presidential sash to another elected civilian: conservative Arnoldo Aleman, who also defeated Ortega at the ballot. In her final months in office, Chamorro published an autobiography, 'Dreams of the Heart,' in which she emphasized her vision of forgiveness and reconciliation. 'After six years as president, she has broadened her definition of 'my children' to include all Nicaraguans,' wrote a reviewer for the Los Angeles Times. 'So even political opponents like Ortega are briefly criticized in one sentence, only to be generously forgiven in the next.' After leaving office, Chamorro retired to her Managua home and her grandchildren. She generally steered clear of politics and created the Violeta Barrios de Chamorro Foundation. In 2011 it was revealed that she suffered from a brain tumor. In October 2018, she was hospitalized and said by family members to be in 'delicate condition' after suffering a cerebral embolism, a kind of stroke.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Army's 250th Anniversary Parade in Pictures
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. President Donald Trump presided over a sweeping military parade in the nation's capital Saturday evening to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, with tanks, troops, and air displays unfolding under a looming threat of thunderstorms and amid major protests across the country. The parade, which began 30 minutes early due to the weather forecast, was held along Constitution Avenue and featured approximately 6,600 soldiers, 84 military vehicles including 28 M1 Abrams tanks, and more than 60 aircraft overhead. Why It Matters Saturday's military parade was the first in Washington since about 8,000 troops marched through the capital in 1991 to mark the victory of an American-led coalition over Saddam Hussein's Iraq in the Gulf War. The event has also sparked controversy, with supporters arguing it will boost recruitment for the U.S. military, while critics point to the cost and Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky warns it could look like "images you saw of the Soviet Union and North Korea." President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attend a military parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary, coinciding with his 79th birthday, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Washington. President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attend a military parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary, coinciding with his 79th birthday, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Washington. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson What To Know The event coincided with Trump's 79th birthday and was timed to project strength and tradition on Flag Day. "How great our country is, very simple, and how strong our military is," Trump said when asked what he hoped people would take away from the event. "We have the strongest military in the world." US President Donald Trump (3L) and US First Lady Melania Trump attend the Army 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, DC, on June 14, 2025. Trump's long-held dream of a parade will come true as nearly... US President Donald Trump (3L) and US First Lady Melania Trump attend the Army 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, DC, on June 14, 2025. Trump's long-held dream of a parade will come true as nearly 7,000 troops plus dozens of tanks and helicopters rumble through the capital in an event officially marking the 250th anniversary of the US army. More Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images Crowds gathered on both sides of the barricaded avenue, many waving flags and dressed in patriotic colors, while others came simply to watch the rare full-scale military procession unfold through the capital's historic core. People watch the Army 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, DC on June 14, 2025. Trump's long-held dream of a parade will come true as nearly 7,000 troops plus dozens of tanks and helicopters rumble through... People watch the Army 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, DC on June 14, 2025. Trump's long-held dream of a parade will come true as nearly 7,000 troops plus dozens of tanks and helicopters rumble through the capital in an event officially marking the 250th anniversary of the US army. More Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images Rain began falling before the parade started. Trump left the White House nearly 45 minutes early to beat the weather and was greeted by chants of "USA! USA!" as he arrived at the reviewing stand with First Lady Melania Trump. The National Anthem is performed as President Donald Trump attends a military parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary, coinciding with his 79th birthday, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Washington. The National Anthem is performed as President Donald Trump attends a military parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary, coinciding with his 79th birthday, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Washington. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson The president beamed as he took the stage. He stood and clapped as the National Anthem was performed and the U.S. Army Band and the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps were introduced. The parade started slightly ahead of schedule. Rain continued to fall intermittently, but lightning held off, allowing the event to proceed. Heavy armor led the way, including M1 Abrams tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles. The roar of engines echoed across the Potomac as units crossed the Arlington Memorial Bridge into Washington. A tank rolls past during the Army 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, DC, on June 14, 2025. Trump's long-held dream of a parade will come true as nearly 7,000 troops plus dozens of tanks and... A tank rolls past during the Army 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, DC, on June 14, 2025. Trump's long-held dream of a parade will come true as nearly 7,000 troops plus dozens of tanks and helicopters rumble through the capital in an event officially marking the 250th anniversary of the US army. More Photo by ANNABELLE GORDON / AFP) (Photo by ANNABELLE GORDON/AFP via Getty Images Military units began arriving, kicking off the parade with Revolutionary War reenactors and period-dressed soldiers from World War I. The 82nd Airborne Division, which dates to 1917, led that section. Nicknamed the "All-Americans," it was originally composed of troops from all 48 states. Soldiers dressed in Revolutionary War uniforms march at the start of the military parade on June 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Army is marking its 250th anniversary with a military parade along Constitution... Soldiers dressed in Revolutionary War uniforms march at the start of the military parade on June 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Army is marking its 250th anniversary with a military parade along Constitution Avenue that includes roughly 6,600 troops, 150 vehicles, and over 50 aircraft. The parade, which coincides with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday, is designed to tell the history of the Army. More Photo byRevolutionary War-era soldiers marched first, followed by Civil War reenactors and troops from World War I and World War II. Sherman tanks and WW II Jeeps rolled past Constitution Avenue. Six restored Jeeps and dozens of troops in 1940s garb highlighted the Army's role in the Allied victory. U.S Army vehicles from various eras cross the Arlington Memorial Bridge during the parade down Constitution Avenue marking the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army June 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Army is... U.S Army vehicles from various eras cross the Arlington Memorial Bridge during the parade down Constitution Avenue marking the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army June 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Army is marking its 250th birthday with a military parade including roughly 6,600 troops, 150 vehicles, and over 50 aircraft. The parade, which coincides with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday, is designed to tell the history of the Army. More Photo byTrump stood to salute passing troops, often returning their gestures. Though seated much of the time, he repeatedly rose to acknowledge marching units. Soldiers dressed in World War I uniforms march in the military parade on June 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Army is marking its 250th anniversary with a military parade along Constitution Avenue that... Soldiers dressed in World War I uniforms march in the military parade on June 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Army is marking its 250th anniversary with a military parade along Constitution Avenue that includes roughly 6,600 troops, 150 vehicles, and over 50 aircraft. The parade, which coincides with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday, is designed to tell the history of the Army. More Photo bySoon after, WWII-era aircraft flew overhead. These included P-51 Mustangs, B-25 Mitchell bombers, and a C-47 Skytrain — all planes integral to the U.S. air campaign during the war. Their flyover coincided with the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions on the ground. President Donald Trump attends a military parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary, coinciding with his 79th birthday, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Washington. President Donald Trump attends a military parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary, coinciding with his 79th birthday, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Washington. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson Vietnam-era helicopters buzzed the parade route in tribute to the "Helicopter War." The Huey, Cobra, and Loach were among those that soared over the capital. Soldiers from the Army 82nd Airborne Division, dressed in World War I era uniforms, march past the reviewing stand and President Donald Trump during a military parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary, coinciding with his... Soldiers from the Army 82nd Airborne Division, dressed in World War I era uniforms, march past the reviewing stand and President Donald Trump during a military parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary, coinciding with his 79th birthday, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Washington. More AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson As the armored columns passed, the U.S. Army's Golden Knights parachute team glided toward the Ellipse, trailing red smoke. Their appearance was moved up because of the weather. Members of the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights make their landing during an event to honor the Army's 250th anniversary, coinciding with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Washington. Members of the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights make their landing during an event to honor the Army's 250th anniversary, coinciding with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Washington. AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein Trump then administered the oath of enlistment to 250 new and reenlisting soldiers as the crowd looked on. Vendors outside sold Army memorabilia and Trump-themed merchandise, including MAGA hats and novelty dolls. Inside the festival area, celebrity chefs Robert Irvine and Andre Rush mingled with troops. Though protests were reported in other parts of Washington and across the country, the parade route remained tightly secured. The National Mall was heavily policed, and streets were reinforced to handle the 60-ton tanks. What People Are Saying U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, speaking before the House Armed Services Committee: "I believe very specifically that telling that story will directly lead to a recruiting boom that will fill up our pipeline for the coming years." Senator Bernie Sanders, on X, formerly Twitter: "We all like to enjoy a nice birthday party. But most of us don't celebrate with a $45 million taxpayer-funded military parade. What Happens Next The parade, according to senior defense officials, is estimated to have cost between $25 million and $45 million — a figure that includes logistics, security, transportation of heavy equipment, and air operations. That total makes it one of the most expensive single-day ceremonial military events in U.S. history.
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Three Israelis killed as Iran fires new round of missiles, while Israel targets Tehran
At least three Israelis were killed and 14 civilians wounded Saturday night as Iran launched a second night of missiles, officials said. Iran struck the Haifa region in the north of Israel – home to the country's largest oil refinery, in the latest strike. Hours after Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed to bring the full force of the air force down on Tehran during a fiery address, sirens could be heard in the north of Israel, as Iran fire a 'heavy and destructive' ballistic missile attack. This picture shows rocket trails in the sky above Jerusalem on June 13, 2025. AFP via Getty Images The barrage prompted millions of Israelis to run for shelter – with the country's defense forces ordering civilians to remain close to bomb shelters. In all, at least six Israelis have been killed and 200 injured since the two countries began trading fire this week. Meanwhile Israel's military kept up attacks targeting Iran's critical oil infrastructure, striking two fuel depots in Tehran. The oil depots at Shahran, northwest of Tehran, and another reservoir south of the city were hit, Iran's oil ministry confirmed. 'Tehran is ablaze,' Israel Defense Minister Katz posted on X, as footage circulating on social media from the strike showed large fires at the oil depot. 'Tehran is ablaze,' said Israel's Defense Minister after IDF strikes targeted the Shahran oil depot near the capital. AFP via Getty Images Ealier Saturday, Iran's largest natural gas production facility, the South Pars gas field, erupted in flames, and piles of smoke were seen from the oil refinery in Abadan, off the Persian Gulf, after IDF air strikes It came a day after Israel's blistering attack on Iranian nuclear and military sites over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program. Follow The Post's live updates on Israel's attack on Iran for the latest news, video, analysis and more Israel's ongoing 'widespread strikes' across Iran have left the country's surviving leadership with the difficult decision of whether to plunge deeper into conflict with Israel's more powerful forces or seek a diplomatic route. The next round of nuclear talks supposed to take place Sunday in Oman between US and Iran was canceled, as world leaders made urgent calls to deescalate and avoid all-out war.
