We’ve compiled a first-of-its-kind, case-by-case accounting of 238 Venezuelan males who have been held in El Salvador. To take action, ProPublica, The Texas Tribune and a workforce of Venezuelan journalists from Alianza Rebelde Investiga (Insurgent Alliance Investigates) and Cazadores de Fake News (Pretend Information Hunters) spent the previous 4 months reporting on the boys’s lives and their backgrounds. We obtained authorities information that included whether or not they had been convicted of crimes within the U.S. or had pending costs. We discovered most have been listed solely as having immigration violations. We additionally performed interviews with kinfolk of greater than 100 of the boys; reviewed hundreds of pages of court docket data from the U.S. and South America; and analyzed federal immigration court docket information. Learn extra about our methodology.
White Home spokesperson Abigail Jackson didn’t reply to questions in regards to the males within the database however mentioned Trump “is dedicated to retaining his guarantees to the American folks and eradicating harmful prison and terrorist illegals who pose a risk to the American public.” She referred inquiries to the Division of Homeland Safety, which didn’t reply.
Search under to be taught extra in regards to the males.
Authorized Justification for Elimination
How the Authorities Labeled Them
Tattoos
Assist Us Report
We’re nonetheless reporting. Are you or somebody you understand one among the many individuals who have been deported? Do you will have details about the deportation operation to share? You’ll be able to fill out this form or attain our tip line on Sign at 917-512-0201 or WhatsApp at 917-327-4868.
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Richard Daniel Girón Maurera24 years outdated
Little public info is on the market about Girón’s life in Venezuela or how he got here to the U.S., apart from that he has two younger youngsters, in line with his sister, who declined to say extra. Please attain out if in case you have info to share.
He was not flagged as having prison convictions or pending costs in U.S. authorities information that we obtained, and we discovered no associated court docket or police data.
Photograph: Fb
Eliminated underneath: Alien Enemies ActA wartime act invoked by the Trump administration to expedite deportations
Alexis Enrique Medina Martínez24 years outdated
Medina graduated from highschool in Venezuela, in line with his mom, Tibisay Martínez. In 2018, he moved to Peru, then to Paraguay, together with his mom, his accomplice, Keice García, and their two youngsters. There, he labored as a bricklayer. He entered the U.S. in November 2023 and settled in Aurora, Colorado, the place he labored a sequence of wierd jobs, together with shoveling snow and roofing. Immigration and Customs Enforcement entered his house in February, handcuffed him and informed García he hadn’t registered a change in tackle with the federal authorities, she mentioned. He had a pending asylum software when he was despatched to El Salvador, in line with our evaluation of immigration court docket information. He has no tattoos, in line with his mom.
U.S. authorities information we obtained lists Medina as having pending prison costs. We couldn’t discover associated court docket or police data, and the Trump administration declined to supply info to assist the declare. In accordance with García, Medina was charged with home violence in September after she known as the police throughout an argument. She mentioned he was detained, she paid his bail and he was positioned on probation. He was additionally required to take part in an intervention program. We discovered no police or court docket data from the incident.
Photograph: Courtesy of household
Eliminated underneath: Alien Enemies ActA wartime act invoked by the Trump administration to expedite deportations
José Márquez Peña25 years outdated
Little public info is on the market about Márquez’s life in Venezuela or how he got here to the U.S. Please attain out if in case you have info to share.
U.S. authorities information we obtained lists Márquez as having pending prison costs. We couldn’t discover associated court docket or police data, and the Trump administration declined to supply info to assist the declare.
Eliminated underneath: Alien Enemies ActA wartime act invoked by the Trump administration to expedite deportations
Rolando José Barreto Villegas34 years outdated
Barreto and his accomplice, Franyelis Carolina Zambrano Manrique, left behind their 5 youngsters — and Barreto’s sixth with a distinct girl — to come back to the U.S., Zambrano mentioned in an interview. They tried to enter the nation twice, surrendering to authorities every time. Ultimately, they settled in Salt Lake Metropolis and obtained short-term protected standing, which allowed him to dwell and work legally within the U.S. Barreto labored in development and in meals supply, and Zambrano was manicurist. They have been each detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement throughout a visitors cease in February and deported to El Salvador in March. Zambrano, together with a gaggle of different girls additionally despatched to El Salvador, was returned to the U.S. She was expelled to Venezuela in April, the place she reunited with their youngsters. Zambrano mentioned she and Barreto have been accused by ICE of being a part of the Tren de Aragua gang due to their tattoos: two stars in her case, a rose and a clock in his.
U.S. authorities information we obtained lists Barreto as having pending prison costs. We discovered data displaying that, in January, he was charged with driving with no license and no insurance coverage in West Valley Metropolis, Utah. It’s unclear if he entered a plea primarily based on the data we have been capable of receive. He failed to look at a court docket listening to in early February, and a decide issued a warrant for his arrest. Zambrano mentioned he couldn’t determine the listening to date. As well as, a Division of Homeland Safety spokesperson mentioned Barreto had informed authorities he had beforehand been convicted of homicide. We obtained Venezuelan court docket data confirming a homicide conviction. In accordance with the doc, he was sentenced to fifteen years in jail. His accomplice denied that he dedicated the crime.
Photograph: Courtesy of household
Eliminated underneath: Elimination orderA proper deportation resolution by a decide or immigration officers
Jheison Moisés Depablos Requena22 years outdated
Little public info is on the market about Depablos’ life in Venezuela or within the U.S. apart from that he lived in Washington state and that he has a tattoo of rosary beads on his forearm, in line with photographs on his kinfolk’ social media accounts. It’s unclear if his tattoo performed a job within the authorities labeling him a member of the Tren de Aragua gang.
U.S. authorities information we obtained lists Depablos as having pending prison costs. We discovered data displaying that, in December 2024, he was arrested and charged with making an attempt to steal clothes price roughly $350 from a Macy’s in Lynnwood, Washington. It’s unclear if he entered a plea or how the case was resolved primarily based on the data we obtained.
Photograph: Fb
Eliminated underneath: Alien Enemies ActA wartime act invoked by the Trump administration to expedite deportations
Wilken Rafael Flores Jiménez23 years outdated
Flores labored at a butcher store and as a supply driver in Venezuela earlier than migrating to the U.S., his mom informed us. He was detained at his December appointment with U.S. border officers made through the CBP One app, which the Biden administration used to attempt to carry order to the hovering numbers of migrants making an attempt to enter the nation. He remained in federal custody till he was despatched to El Salvador. It’s unclear if his tattoos, which embrace a crown, a rose and a picture of the soccer star Lionel Messi, performed a job within the authorities labeling him a member of the Tren de Aragua gang.
He was not flagged as having prison convictions or pending costs in U.S. authorities information that we obtained, and we discovered no associated court docket or police data.
Photograph: Fb
Eliminated underneath: Elimination orderA proper deportation resolution by a decide or immigration officers
Henrry José Albornoz Quintero29 years outdated
Albornoz lived in Peru for about 4 years earlier than migrating to the U.S. together with his spouse in January 2024, a few 12 months earlier than he was detained. After crossing the border, they turned themselves in to authorities and requested asylum. A skilled mechanic, Albornoz discovered jobs doing repairs and delivering meals in Texas. His spouse was 9 months pregnant when he was despatched to El Salvador; their son was born two weeks later. “He was so excited, shopping for issues for the child,” his sister informed us. Throughout his time within the Salvadoran jail, Albornoz’s spouse relied on charity from an area church to assist the household. Albornoz additionally has a 10-year-old son who struggled to attend faculty throughout his absence. Albornoz has a tattoo of a dragon on his arm; he additionally has one in every of a small crown over his coronary heart, which he received when his son was born. It’s unclear if the tattoos performed a job within the authorities labeling him a member of the Tren de Aragua gang. Immigration court docket data present he had a pending asylum software when he was deported to El Salvador.
He was not flagged as having prison convictions or pending costs in U.S. authorities information we obtained, and we discovered no associated court docket or police data.
Photograph: Telemundo
Eliminated underneath: Alien Enemies ActA wartime act invoked by the Trump administration to expedite deportations
Deibin Gualtero Quiroz39 years outdated
Gualtero is the daddy of 5 youngsters, in line with an interview his mom gave to VTV, a state-run Venezuelan tv station. Earlier than starting his journey north, Gualtero lived in Colombia, the place he made furnishings. He later moved to Mexico, the place he labored in house restore. Round December 2024, he crossed the U.S.-Mexico border and turned himself in to immigration authorities, a course of many immigrants comply with to hunt asylum. He remained in custody till he was despatched to El Salvador. It’s unclear if Gualtero’s tattoos, which embrace a flower and ski masks, performed a job within the authorities labeling him a member of the Tren de Aragua gang.
He was not flagged as having prison convictions or pending costs in U.S. authorities information that we obtained, and we discovered no associated court docket or police data.
Photograph: Fb
Eliminated underneath: Elimination orderA proper deportation resolution by a decide or immigration officers
Rosme Alexander Colina Argüelles30 years outdated
Colina migrated to the U.S. in 2023 together with his accomplice and two youngsters, his mom informed a Venezuelan journalist on Instagram. On the time of his deportation, he lived in Texas, the place he labored in development and for a shifting firm. It’s unclear if his tattoos, which embrace a crown with the names of his mom and daughter, performed a job within the authorities labeling him a member of the gang Tren de Aragua.
He was not flagged as having prison convictions or pending costs in U.S. authorities information that we obtained, and we discovered no associated court docket or police data.
Photograph: Instagram
Eliminated underneath: Elimination orderA proper deportation resolution by a decide or immigration officers
Daniel Alberto Lozano Camargo20 years outdated
Lozano lived in Colombia earlier than migrating to the U.S. as an unaccompanied minor simply earlier than he turned 18. As soon as within the U.S., he lived in Houston, the place he met his accomplice, Leslie Aranda, a U.S. citizen. She mentioned Lozano acquired his work authorization card, however he principally washed and detailed the vehicles of purchasers he discovered on Fb. He lived with Aranda and her younger daughter, whom she mentioned he handled like his personal, even tattooing her identify on his arm. It’s unclear if his tattoos, which additionally embrace a rose and crown over his niece’s identify, performed a job within the authorities labeling him a member of the Tren de Aragua gang. A 2024 authorized settlement barred authorities from deporting Lozano and different unaccompanied minors in the course of their asylum processes.
U.S. authorities information we obtained lists Lozano as having a prison conviction for harmful medicine. We discovered data displaying that, in January, Lozano pleaded responsible to a felony drug possession cost in Harris County, Texas. Aranda mentioned she anticipated Lozano would face penalties for his drug costs, and she or he had resigned herself to his doable deportation to Venezuela. “He’s no totally different than anybody else who commits against the law,” she informed us. “However what I’m not OK with is that this complete technique of him being despatched to El Salvador.”
Photograph: Courtesy of household
Eliminated underneath: Alien Enemies ActA wartime act invoked by the Trump administration to expedite deportations