Venezuelan President Maduro denounces the U.S. deportation of migrants to El Salvador as a “kidnapping,” claiming they are not criminals. He plans to request their return with public support while criticizing joint U.S.-El Salvador operations. Protests have erupted in Caracas demanding justice for the deported.
Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has condemned the U.S. deportation of over 200 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, labeling it a “kidnapping” and asserting that those deported are not criminals. He criticized El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele for cooperating with the U.S., insisting that the individuals were wrongfully treated without due process before being transported to a detention facility resembling a concentration camp.
Maduro announced plans to submit an official request to the Salvadoran government for the return of the deportees, backed by millions of signatures from Venezuelan citizens. This comes in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent deportation action, which Trump claims is necessary due to an ongoing “invasion” of migrants, framing the deported individuals as dangerous members of the Tren de Aragua gang despite previous legal challenges against their deportation.
The migrants, held at the notorious Counter-Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in El Salvador, face harsh treatment that numerous human rights organizations have denounced. Venezuelans in Caracas have protested the deportations, stating they recognize their own family, who they believe have been unjustly labeled as criminals.
In support of the deportees’ families, Maduro applauded the public demonstrations, emphasizing the need to demand justice for those deported. He remarked on the absence of evidence from the White House connecting the deported individuals to gang affiliations, as the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has conducted reviews of the migrants in question.
Moreover, Maduro revealed he has directed his government to initiate more repatriation flights for Venezuelan migrants currently detained in the U.S., pledging to ensure they are treated with dignity and reunited with their families.
In summary, Maduro’s comments reflect strong condemnation of the U.S. deportation actions, viewing them as illegal and harmful. The Venezuelan government seeks to secure the repatriation of the affected migrants, backed by significant public support. This situation highlights ongoing tensions between Venezuela, the U.S., and El Salvador, with human rights concerns surrounding the treatment of deportees in detention facilities.
Original Source: www.cnn.com
