HOUSTON, Texas — A federal court has ordered the Trump administration to ensure that a deported Venezuelan man can connect with his legal representatives. The ruling comes in the wake of significant concerns raised over the treatment of immigrants and their right to due process.
Widmer Josneyder Agelviz Sanguino, who is 24, arrived in the United States last September with his mother and two younger brothers under the refugee resettlement program. However, upon their arrival at a Houston airport, he was detained because of a tattoo deemed associated with a dangerous Venezuelan gang known as Tren de Aragua.
Despite documentation reviewed by NBC News indicating that Agelviz Sanguino had no criminal history and that there was no solid evidence linking him to gang activities, he was deported to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador. This mass deportation, which targeted nearly 200 individuals alleged to be gang members, occurred before he had a chance to present his case in immigration court.
His mother, Lisbeth Carolina Sanguino, expressed her distress, emphasizing that her son is not a member of any gang and has never engaged in harmful behavior. “He’s a young man who’s never hurt anyone,” she stated.
Legal representatives for Agelviz Sanguino have initiated challenges against the mass deportations, claiming that these actions violate the rights of individuals to a fair hearing. Recent rulings have drawn attention to the administration’s controversial use of the Alien Enemies Act, which has faced fierce scrutiny in courts.
Judge Keith Ellison of the Southern District of Texas has mandated that the government identify Agelviz Sanguino’s location within 24 hours and restore lawyer-client communication within 48 hours, setting a compliance deadline for Wednesday. Attorney Javier Rivera highlighted the court’s concern over the young man’s well-being and the justification for his ongoing detention.
The Trump administration is anticipated to contest this ruling in the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. A White House spokesperson defended the actions of the Department of Homeland Security, asserting that the identification of individuals for deportation goes beyond visible tattoos or social media affiliations, emphasizing that Tren de Aragua is a highly dangerous criminal organization.
They reaffirmed their commitment to national security, stating that sharing intelligence reports that may undermine safety would be impractical.
Agelviz Sanguino’s situation mirrors that of another individual, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was deported to El Salvador under similar circumstances. While Garcia has engaged in a series of legal battles to maintain contact with his attorneys, the specifics of his case have not resulted in a direct court order for communication, revealing the ongoing complexities of immigration law in the United States.
This unfolding case highlights the broader implications of immigration policy and the legal rights of those affected by deportation actions.
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