The situation of Oscar, a Venezuelan man deported by the US to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador, has left his mother, Gertrudis Pineda, in despair and on the brink of a breakdown. Despite living in Dallas, Texas, where Oscar worked laying carpets in apartments to support his family, he was apprehended and then deported to El Salvador, accused of being a member of the Tren de Aragua gang. This deportation was enacted under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act without due legal process, drawing criticism and conflict with a federal judge. The US government insists those deported were properly vetted and are dangerous gang members, although they acknowledge in court documents that many deportees lack US criminal records.
The maximum-security prison in El Salvador, known as the Cecot, is designed to hold violent gang members including those from the MS-13 and 18th Street gangs. However, it has been criticized by activists as a “black hole of human rights” due to the lack of transparency and fundamental rights for inmates. The situation has garnered criticism not only within the US and Venezuela but also within El Salvador, where Salvadoran immigration expert Napoleon Campos argues the deportation may be unconstitutional and that most of the 238 deportees had no criminal records in any of the three countries.
Besides the legal and human rights concerns, the social context in El Salvador has drastically changed under President Nayib Bukele’s crackdown on gangs. While these measures have led to a visible reduction in gang activity and increased public safety in some neighborhoods, there is also a culture of silence and fear persists, with many residents either unwilling or scared to speak about their experiences. The situation of the deported Venezuelans, including Oscar, remains uncertain, with their families in Venezuela advocating for their release and return home. The detention of these individuals has been labeled as “unheard of” and akin to “slavery” by those fighting for their freedom.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2y5k2zyz5o
