A Federal Judge Orders Trump Administration to Enable Contact Between Deported Venezuelan Man and Lawyers
In a surprising turn of events, a federal judge in Texas has demanded that the Trump administration assist in facilitating communication between a Venezuelan man who was deported to El Salvador and his legal team. This marks the first instance of such an order in the ongoing legal battle surrounding President Donald Trump’s utilization of the Alien Enemies Act to send numerous men to a supermax prison in El Salvador, known for its severe human rights violations. The Terrorism Confinement Center, also known as CECOT, typically prohibits any form of contact between inmates and the outside world, including their attorneys and families.
The order, issued by Judge Keith P. Ellison of the Southern District of Texas, gives the federal government until Wednesday afternoon to confirm the whereabouts of the plaintiff, a 24-year-old Venezuelan man, and 48 hours to establish and maintain communication between him and his legal representatives. This move has been met with approval from Javier Rivera, the Houston lawyer representing Widmer Josneyder Agelviz Sanguino, the Venezuelan man detained in El Salvador. The Trump administration is expected to challenge the order through the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, as it has previously contended that it lacks the jurisdiction or means to facilitate the return of deported individuals to the United States.
Not really sure why this matters, but Agelviz initially traveled to the United States in September with his family as part of the U.S. refugee resettlement program. Upon arriving in Houston, immigration authorities detained him due to a tattoo on his forearm that was deemed to be associated with a Venezuelan gang. Despite having no criminal record or additional evidence linking him to the gang, Agelviz was abruptly deported to El Salvador along with hundreds of other men, sparking outrage among attorneys and advocates. The sudden deportations are now the subject of legal challenges aiming to bring the men back to the United States and prevent similar actions in the future.
Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like a majority of the deported individuals, including Agelviz, had no criminal history and did not violate any immigration laws upon their arrival in the U.S. Some of them even entered the country through official channels with appointments made via the CBP One app. The process of obtaining refugee status involves rigorous vetting and background checks to ensure that individuals do not pose a threat to public safety. Despite this, the Trump administration has maintained its stance, citing intelligence reports linking the deported individuals to a violent gang in Venezuela. However, no concrete evidence has been provided to support these claims, leading to growing skepticism among advocates and family members of the detainees.
In a heart-wrenching account, Agelviz’s mother, Lisbeth Carolina Sanguino, expressed her anguish at being separated from her son for over two months without any form of contact. The family had fled Venezuela for undisclosed reasons and had gone through a lengthy screening process before being granted refugee status. With no information about her son’s well-being or living conditions, Sanguino’s distress is palpable. The only insight into the detainees’ situation came from a video released by former Rep. Matt Gaetz, where prisoners at CECOT were seen pleading for help. This glimpse into the harsh reality of their confinement only serves to deepen the families’ concerns and uncertainty about the fate of their loved ones.
It’s really tough to imagine the pain and helplessness Sanguino must be experiencing, not knowing the basic details of her son’s life in detention. The lack of transparency surrounding the deportations and the conditions at CECOT only add to the distress of families like Sanguino’s, who are left grappling with the uncertainty of their loved ones’ welfare.
