Reyes Mota is among the hundreds of #Venezuelans that the #Trump admin deported earlier this month through the use of extraordinary wartime powers based on a 1798 #law [#AlienEnemiesAct]. The admin sent them to #CECOT in #ElSalvador, claiming they are members of the notorious Venezuelan gang #TdA. But the 24-yr-old father does NOT have a criminal record in Venezuela. His #immigration detention records are riddled w/mistakes, raising questions about how reliable they are.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article302671624.html
He has no tattoos & his family members deny he has any gang ties. Had Reyes Mota still been in the #US, his #asylum hearing would have been a commonplace matter. But his absence showcases the remarkable nature of the #Venezuelans’ #deportation to #ElSalvador. As attys argue the flights were unlawful & violated a federal judge’s order, the #immigration court is navigating the case of an asylum seeker w/pending immigration proceedings whom #Trump flew to another country w/o #DueProcess.
Reyes Mota & his wife decided to come to the US because they saw no future for their child in #Venezuela. In 2023, they became part of the 7M #Venezuelans who have fled economic turbulence, political repression & widespread poverty….
Liyanara Sánchez, Reyes Mota’s wife, described him as a reserved man, a loving husband, a dedicated father & pet lover. In the US he painted houses for a living. He carefully budgeted to buy treats & clothes to spoil his adopted dog, Sacha.
#law #immigration #Trump
“He’s the most beautiful person. If you need something, he’ll be there for you,” said Sánchez. “He’s a hard worker. He’s never left us without food or housing.”
At a young age, he chose to build a life with Sánchez, who was already a mother. To the boy, Reyes Mota was more than a stepfather — he was a true father, someone who stepped into the role w/love & commitment, embracing the boy as his own, his family said.
“I need help for my father,” his 9-yr-old son, who has learned English in the US, told the Herald…. “My father is very nice with me.... My father is not bad people. My father is very, very good people.”
On Feb 4, Reyes Mota, who was living in Tampa, went to the ICE office in the city for a required check-in. There, agents informed him that he was being placed in custody under suspicion of being associated w/the Tren de Aragua gang….
From detention, Reyes Mota asked his loved ones about whether Sacha was eating enough & how his son was doing in school. But they lost contact w/him on the day before the #deportation flights to #ElSalvador, on March 15.
A week later, his name popped up on a list of #Venezuelans who were being held at the Central American mega prison. “He doesn’t deserve this injustice,” said a family member who requested to remain anonymous out of fear….
Back in the courtroom At attorney Prada’s request the judge froze Reyes Mota’s #asylum case for the time being. That way, he could eventually take it up again. That is, if he is ever able to return to the #UnitedStates.
“We can agree that there was no removal order from this court or another court,” the judge said, noting that there was very little he could do.
The govt claims on Reyes Mota’s I-213 form, a doc #DHS uses to support that someone is deportable,that he“may be a Tren de Aragua associate.”But in those same docs, the govt says he has NO criminal records or #immigration history in the US. The govt also uses someone else’s last name in several parts of the doc, identifies him w/female pronouns, & uses 2 different ID numbers that authorities use to keep track of individuals, raising questions about the reliability of #Trump ofcls’ accusations….
After Prada pointed out the mistakes & argued there is no evidence Reyes Mota was a TdA member, the judge asked if the govt had made a mistake. Attys for #DHS said it was not a hearing to analyze evidence but that they would look into it.…
Reyes Mota’s family also provided to the Herald govt docs showing that Reyes Mota did not have any criminal record in Venezuela, & photos that show he does not have any tattoos. #Immigration authorities have used tattoos to claim migrants are gang members.
On Wednesday afternoon, Homeland Security #KristiNoem [dog killer] was on her way to visit the Terrorism Confinement Center #CECOT in #ElSalvador. She & other officials have touted the #deportations as a feat of #Trump’s agenda to keep Americans safe from violent criminals. Before her arrival she said on her X account she was going to see firsthand “where the worst-of-the-worst criminals are housed.”
@Nonilex
Somehow, some way, those perpetrating thes atrocities should suffer horribly
I hope Kristi gets her day in The Hague
These motherfuckers must be stopped.