Latest news with #CEcot
Bloomberg
4 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Trump Violated Rights of Deported Venezuelans, Judge Rules
A US judge ruled that the Trump administration violated the due-process rights of more than 100 Venezuelans deported to a notorious prison in El Salvador, and they must now get a chance to challenge their removal. US District Judge James Boasberg in Washington found that the purported gang members never got a chance to challenge their designation as 'alien enemies' before they were sent on March 15 and 16 to the mega-prison in El Salvador known as CECOT.
Bloomberg
4 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
US Judge Says Venezuelans Can Challenge Jailing in El Salvador
A US judge has ruled that the Trump administration must find a way to give Venezuelans sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador under a wartime powers law an opportunity to challenge their removal. US District Judge James Boasberg in Washington found that the challengers were likely to win their claim that US officials sent migrants to the detention facility known as CECOT without giving them enough notice and a chance to object. The judge said in his Wednesday decision he would decide later how exactly the administration now must provide that opportunity to the Venezuelans.
CBS News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Relatives of Venezuelan detainees in CECOT find comfort in support group, with no release in sight
On May 18, relatives of the Venezuelan migrant detainees in El Salvador's mega prison CECOT, announced to a WhatsApp group the death of Marlene Ramirez, a grandmother who raised one of the men currently detained there, Jonathan Mendoza Ramirez. Her family said she had died of a heart attack, unable to endure the emotional stress of not being able to communicate with her grandson. She could no longer take it, they said. Since the Trump administration in March removed a group of Venezuelan migrants alleged to be gang members to El Salvador for indefinite detention, a WhatsApp virtual community has come into being, made up largely of mothers of the detainees. The group grew one by one, as the mothers found out about their sons' whereabouts, largely from videos posted on social media by the president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele. The videos showed the Venezuelan men arriving from the U.S. in shackles, being frog-marched off the plane and into CECOT. Inside the prison, they were forced to kneel as their heads were shaved by guards. "I can't recount these videos or else I fall into a serious depression," said Jetzy Arteaga, the creator of the WhatsApp group. Her son, Carlos Cañizalez Arteaga, is one of the Venezuelan migrants transferred to CECOT in March. "I try to block them, so that I can go on about my day, but only a mother in this situation can understand why these images hurt so much." On days when she can't keep the images out of her thoughts, Arteaga says she can't get out of bed and turns to other mothers in the group chat. "When one of us is down, we go to their house, run their errands and pick up their other kids from school," says Arteaga. "They're all over Venezuela, and I understand that today, it might be them needing help, but tomorrow it might be me in the hospital." Jetzy Arteaga, creator of a Whatsapp support group for mothers whose sons are being held in CECOT, a maximum security prison in El Salvador. Her son, Carlos Cañizalez Arteaga, standing behind her, is being held at CECOT. Photo provided by Jetzy Arteaga Arteaga created the group to communicate with other mothers because she says she needed answers. "I was in a state of disbelief, and I was waiting for the U.S. government to say my son was transferred by mistake," said Arteaga. "The U.S. is a country that follows their laws, and when their investigation concludes my son is not a gang member, they'll release him." Records that prove his lack of criminal gang activity in Venezuela, however, have not led to Carlos' release. The group says it has grown and now includes relatives of 170 of the migrant men detained in El Salvador. "The first thing I do every morning is check the group chat, and we ask for updates and prayers," said Analia Burbano, whose nephew Victor Andres Ortega Burbano, is being held in CECOT. She says she constantly scrolls through social media to see if there are any updates or photos of her nephew in prison. Undated photo of Analia Burbano with her nephew, Victor Andres Ortega Burbano, who is being detained in CECOT, in El Salvador. Photo provided by Analia Burbno Burbano says she is now speaking on behalf of her nephew because his mother is emotionally and physically unable to do so. "Ever since she saw the video of Victor at CECOT, she fell into a depression, does not get up from bed, does not eat and cries every day," said Burbano. "She is very frail." Burbano says her nephew's arrest and transfer came as a surprise, since Ortega had been granted Temporary Protected Status that allowed him to legally work in the U.S. According to immigration documents reviewed by CBS News, Ortega's TPS was approved for June 2024 through last month, in April. The group frequently makes trips to Miramar, Venezuela, to pressure officials to demand the release and deportation of the men back to their country. The chat serves as a venue to plan the next protest or opportunity to publicize the men's plight at events like those held by the United Nations. "We all have our ups and downs, but through this process, we make sure that none of us let the negative thoughts linger for long," said Anyi Yohana Casares Jimenez, mother of Jason Alfredo Silva Casares. On March 13, Jimenez says she received the last call from her son, desperately asking her to send over documents proving he didn't have a criminal record in Venezuela. She never heard from him again. Jason showed up at the U.S. southern border in August 2024 after receiving an appointment through the CBP One app, but remained in detention because immigration agents were suspicious of his crown tattoo, according to his mother. "There's not a day that I don't search social media for any new videos of him inside CECOT." The three mothers all claim their sons are not part of Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang, but they do fault the men's tattoos for causing their imprisonment. "It was the argument I always had with my son," said Arteaga. "I always asked what his need for a tattoo was." Her son tattooed his mother's name "Jetzy" on his wrist, a tattoo that now serves as evidence of gang affiliation, according to court documents. It's now been more than two months since these men were taken to El Salvador and the U.S. government continues to deport anyone who is in the country illegally after President Trump promised to deport "the worst of the worst". "All we can do is trust that this nightmare will soon end," said Burbano.
CBS News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
With no release in sight, relatives of Venezuelan detainees in CECOT find comfort in support group
On May 18, relatives of the Venezuelan migrant detainees in El Salvador's mega prison CECOT, announced to a WhatsApp group the death of Marlene Ramirez, a grandmother who raised one of the men currently detained there, Jonathan Mendoza Ramirez. Her family said she had died of a heart attack, unable to endure the emotional stress of not being able to communicate with her grandson. She could no longer take it, they said. Since the Trump administration in March removed a group of Venezuelan migrants alleged to be gang members to El Salvador for indefinite detention, a WhatsApp virtual community has come into being, made up largely of mothers of the detainees. The group grew one by one, as the mothers found out about their sons' whereabouts, largely from videos posted on social media by the president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele. The videos showed the Venezuelan men arriving from the U.S. in shackles, being frog-marched off the plane and into CECOT. Inside the prison, they were forced to kneel as their heads were shaved by guards. "I can't recount these videos or else I fall into a serious depression," said Jetzy Arteaga, the creator of the WhatsApp group. Her son, Carlos Cañizalez Arteaga, is one of the Venezuelan migrants transferred to CECOT in March. "I try to block them, so that I can go on about my day, but only a mother in this situation can understand why these images hurt so much." On days when she can't keep the images out of her thoughts, Arteaga says she can't get out of bed and turns to other mothers in the group chat. "When one of us is down, we go to their house, run their errands and pick up their other kids from school," says Arteaga. "They're all over Venezuela, and I understand that today, it might be them needing help, but tomorrow it might be me in the hospital." Jetzy Arteaga, creator of a Whatsapp support group for mothers whose sons are being held in CECOT, a maximum security prison in El Salvador. Her son, Carlos Cañizalez Arteaga, standing behind her, is being held at CECOT. Photo provided by Jetzy Arteaga Arteaga created the group to communicate with other mothers because she says she needed answers. "I was in a state of disbelief, and I was waiting for the U.S. government to say my son was transferred by mistake," said Arteaga. "The U.S. is a country that follows their laws, and when their investigation concludes my son is not a gang member, they'll release him." Records that prove his lack of criminal gang activity in Venezuela, however, have not led to Carlos' release. The group says it has grown and now includes relatives of 170 of the migrant men detained in El Salvador. "The first thing I do every morning is check the group chat, and we ask for updates and prayers," said Analia Burbano, whose nephew Victor Andres Ortega Burbano, is being held in CECOT. She says she constantly scrolls through social media to see if there are any updates or photos of her nephew in prison. Undated photo of Analia Burbano (R) with her nephew, Victor Andres Ortega Burbano (L), who is being detained in CECOT, in El Salvador Photo provided by Analia Burbno Burbano says she is now speaking on behalf of her nephew because his mother is emotionally and physically unable to do so. "Ever since she saw the video of Victor at CECOT, she fell into a depression, does not get up from bed, does not eat and cries every day," said Burbano. "She is very frail." Burbano says her nephew's arrest and transfer came as a surprise, since Ortega had been granted Temporary Protected Status that allowed him to legally work in the U.S. According to immigration documents reviewed by CBS News, Ortega's TPS was approved for June 2024 through last month, in April. The group frequently makes trips to Miramar, Venezuela, to pressure officials to demand the release and deportation of the men back to their country. The chat serves as a venue to plan the next protest or opportunity to publicize the men's plight at events like those held by the United Nations. "We all have our ups and downs, but through this process, we make sure that none of us let the negative thoughts linger for long," said Anyi Yohana Casares Jimenez, mother of Jason Alfredo Silva Casares. On March 13, Jimenez says she received the last call from her son, desperately asking her to send over documents proving he didn't have a criminal record in Venezuela. She never heard from him again. Jason showed up at the U.S. southern border in August 2024 after receiving an appointment through the CBP One app, but remained in detention because immigration agents were suspicious of his crown tattoo, according to his mother. "There's not a day that I don't search social media for any new videos of him inside CECOT." The three mothers all claim their sons are not part of Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang, but they do fault the men's tattoos for causing their imprisonment. "It was the argument I always had with my son," said Arteaga. "I always asked what his need for a tattoo was." Her son tattooed his mother's name "Jetzy" on his wrist, a tattoo that now serves as evidence of gang affiliation, according to court documents. It's now been more than two months since these men were taken to El Salvador and the U.S. government continues to deport anyone who is in the country illegally after President Trump promised to deport "the worst of the worst". "All we can do is trust that this nightmare will soon end," said Burbano.
Jordan Times
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
US deportations raise 'serious concerns': UN rights chief
The United Nations voiced alarm on Tuesday at the large numbers of non-nationals being deported from the United States, in particular the hundreds sent to a mega-prison in El Salvador (AFP photo) GENEVA — The UN rights chief voiced alarm on Tuesday at the large numbers of non-nationals being deported from the United States, in particular the hundreds sent to a mega-prison in El Salvador. "This situation raises serious concerns regarding a wide array of rights that are fundamental to both US and international law," said Volker Turk, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights. His office pointed in a statement to US data showing that between January 20 and 142,000 individuals had been deported from the US. It voiced particular concern at the situation after US President Donald Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act in March to send alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to a massive prison, CECOT, in El Salvador. The US Supreme Court and several lower courts have since temporarily halted deportations using the obscure law, citing the lack of due process. And yet, "the fate and whereabouts of at least 245 Venezuelans and some 30 Salvadorans removed to El Salvador remain unclear", the UN rights office said. The rights office said it had received information from family members and lawyers regarding more than 100 Venezuelans believed to be held in CECOT. "These reports indicate that many of the detainees were not informed of the US government's intention to deport them to be held in a third country, that many did not have access to a lawyer and that they were effectively unable to challenge the lawfulness of their removal before being flown out of the US," the statement said. It highlighted that to date, no official lists of the detainees had been published by US or Salvadoran authorities, and their legal status in El Salvador remains unclear. "Families we have spoken to have expressed a sense of complete powerlessness in the face of what has happened and their pain at seeing their relatives labelled and handled as violent criminals, even terrorists, without any court judgement as to validity of what is claimed against them," Turk said. "The manner in which some of the individuals were detained and deported -- including the use of shackles on them -- as well as the demeaning rhetoric used against migrants, has also been profoundly disturbing." The UN rights chief said he welcomed "the essential role that the US judiciary, legal community and civil society are playing to ensure the protection of human rights in this context". "I have called on the US government to take the necessary measures to ensure compliance with due process, to give prompt and full effect to the determinations of its courts, to safeguard the rights of children and to stop the removal of any individual to any country where there is a real risk of torture or other irreparable harm." Page 2
