Women Speak Out on Misleading Deportation Experience to El Salvador

Two women publicly shared their experience of being misled by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a deportation attempt to El Salvador, where they were told they would be going to Venezuela. They reported being treated poorly, denied due process, and causing confusion within ICE. Their accounts challenge the administration’s narrative on deportations and highlight the personal impact on families and individuals unjustly caught in these policies.

On March 15, during the Trump administration, over 200 men were deported to El Salvador, bound for the infamous CECOT prison. While the media focused on these men, eight women were also on the planes but were not disembarked upon arrival as El Salvador refused to accept them. Consequently, these women were returned to American detention facilities, showcasing the chaotic nature of the deportation process and the administration’s handling of immigrants accused of gang affiliations.

Two of the women, Heymar Padilla Moyetones and Scarleth Rodriguez, have come forward to share their experiences from the incident. They reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel misled them about their destination, claiming they were being transported to Venezuela when, in reality, they were taken to El Salvador. Moyetones expressed her dismay, stating, “We were lied to” regarding the intentions of their flight.

Despite the administration’s assertions that individuals sent to El Salvador had clear connections to the Tren de Aragua gang, the vetting process evidently failed to consider the possibility of female detainees being accepted. Moyetones recounted how officials prevented them from exiting the plane when they arrived, indicating that they would instead be returned to the U.S.

This incident highlights the chaotic nature of the deportation flights, with the government admitting to errors in separate cases involving male detainees. Reports indicate that the administration utilized tattoos to identify gang affiliations, a method deemed unreliable by experts. Meanwhile, the women’s plight remains unaddressed by official statements, raising questions about the legality of their deportation process without due oversight.

The women, now detained in a Texas facility, expressed the bond they formed through their shared experiences. Moyetones articulated her ambitions for a better life in the U.S. and her heartbreak over her separation from her son, currently in the care of a relative back home in Venezuela. Both deny any criminal affiliations and maintain their innocence. Their accounts contradict the administration’s claims of fair deportation practices.

Documentation has surfaced suggesting confusion within ICE leading up to the flights, with aborted attempts to transfer the women suggesting a lack of clear intent. The unfortunate situation demonstrates the government’s evident oversight in not providing proper processes for those being deported, as noted by Lee Gelernt, a lawyer from the American Civil Liberties Union.

After their realization of the actual destination, Moyetones and Rodriguez noted being treated poorly upon their arrival in El Salvador. Meanwhile, Rodriguez’s mother, Yelitza, expressed hope for her daughter’s return, highlighting the struggles they go through as a low-income family and their desire for a life free from persecution or violence at home in Venezuela. Yelitza’s heartfelt sentiment underscores the human impact of these deportation policies, as she longs for her daughter’s safe return without any conditions that would compromise their well-being.

The unjust experiences of women Heymar Padilla Moyetones and Scarleth Rodriguez reveal serious flaws in the Trump administration’s deportation policies. Misinformation regarding their destination and the lack of due process raise critical concerns about the efficacy and humanity of immigration enforcement. Their stories, alongside the chilling remarks from their families, expose the dire consequences of these policies on the lives of innocent individuals seeking safety and a better future.

Original Source: www.nbcnews.com