by ProPublica, The Texas Tribune, Alianza Rebelde Investiga and Cazadores de Pretend Information Revealed July 23, 2025
We’ve compiled a first-of-its-kind, case-by-case accounting of 238 Venezuelan males who have been held in El Salvador. To take action, ProPublica, The Texas Tribune and a crew of Venezuelan journalists from Alianza Rebelde Investiga (Insurgent Alliance Investigates) and Cazadores de Pretend Information (Pretend Information Hunters) spent the previous 4 months reporting on the boys’s lives and their backgrounds. We obtained authorities knowledge that included whether or not they had been convicted of crimes within the U.S. or had pending prices. We discovered most have been listed solely as having immigration violations. We additionally carried out interviews with family members of greater than 100 of the boys; reviewed 1000’s of pages of court docket information from the U.S. and South America; and analyzed federal immigration court docket knowledge. Learn extra about our methodology.
White Home spokesperson Abigail Jackson didn’t reply to questions in regards to the males within the database however stated Trump “is dedicated to maintaining his guarantees to the American individuals and eradicating harmful legal and terrorist illegals who pose a menace to the American public.” She referred inquiries to the Division of Homeland Safety, which didn’t reply.
Search beneath to study extra in regards to the males.
We’re nonetheless reporting. Are you or somebody one among the many individuals who have been deported? Do you’ve got details about the deportation operation to share? You may fill out this type or attain our tip line on Sign at 917-512-0201 or WhatsApp at 917-327-4868.Authorized Justification for Elimination
How the Authorities Labeled Them
Tattoos
Assist Us Report
We’re nonetheless reporting. Are you or somebody one among the many individuals who have been deported? Do you’ve got details about the deportation operation to share? You may fill out this type or attain our tip line on Sign at 917-512-0201 or WhatsApp at 917-327-4868.
Kind by
Choose an optionLast nameAge (ascending)
Richard Daniel Girón Maurera24 years outdated
Little public info is out there about Girón’s life in Venezuela or how he got here to the U.S., apart from that he has two younger kids, based on his sister, who declined to say extra. Please attain out when you have info to share.
He was not flagged as having legal convictions or pending prices in U.S. authorities knowledge that we obtained, and we discovered no associated court docket or police information.
Picture: Fb
Eliminated below: Alien Enemies ActA wartime act invoked by the Trump administration to expedite deportations
Alexis Enrique Medina Martínez24 years outdated
Medina graduated from highschool in Venezuela, based on his mom, Tibisay Martínez. In 2018, he moved to Peru, then to Paraguay, along with his mom, his companion, Keice García, and their two kids. There, he labored as a bricklayer. He entered the U.S. in November 2023 and settled in Aurora, Colorado, the place he labored a sequence of strange jobs, together with shoveling snow and roofing. Immigration and Customs Enforcement entered his residence in February, handcuffed him and instructed García he hadn’t registered a change in handle with the federal authorities, she stated. He had a pending asylum software when he was despatched to El Salvador, based on our evaluation of immigration court docket knowledge. He has no tattoos, based on his mom.
U.S. authorities knowledge we obtained lists Medina as having pending legal prices. We couldn’t discover associated court docket or police information, and the Trump administration declined to offer info to assist the declare. In response to García, Medina was charged with home violence in September after she known as the police throughout an argument. She stated he was detained, she paid his bail and he was positioned on probation. He was additionally required to take part in an intervention program. We discovered no police or court docket information from the incident.
Picture: Courtesy of household
Eliminated below: Alien Enemies ActA wartime act invoked by the Trump administration to expedite deportations
José Márquez Peña25 years outdated
Little public info is out there about Márquez’s life in Venezuela or how he got here to the U.S. Please attain out when you have info to share.
U.S. authorities knowledge we obtained lists Márquez as having pending legal prices. We couldn’t discover associated court docket or police information, and the Trump administration declined to offer info to assist the declare.
Eliminated below: Alien Enemies ActA wartime act invoked by the Trump administration to expedite deportations
Rolando José Barreto Villegas34 years outdated
Barreto and his companion, Franyelis Carolina Zambrano Manrique, left behind their 5 kids — and Barreto’s sixth with a distinct girl — to return to the U.S., Zambrano stated in an interview. They tried to enter the nation twice, surrendering to authorities every time. Ultimately, they settled in Salt Lake Metropolis and obtained non permanent protected standing, which allowed him to reside and work legally within the U.S. Barreto labored in development and in meals supply, and Zambrano was manicurist. They have been each detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement throughout a site visitors cease in February and deported to El Salvador in March. Zambrano, together with a gaggle of different ladies additionally despatched to El Salvador, was returned to the U.S. She was expelled to Venezuela in April, the place she reunited with their kids. Zambrano stated she and Barreto have been accused by ICE of being a part of the Tren de Aragua gang due to their tattoos: two stars in her case, a rose and a clock in his.
U.S. authorities knowledge we obtained lists Barreto as having pending legal prices. We discovered information exhibiting that, in January, he was charged with driving with no license and no insurance coverage in West Valley Metropolis, Utah. It’s unclear if he entered a plea based mostly on the information we have been capable of get hold of. He failed to seem at a court docket listening to in early February, and a decide issued a warrant for his arrest. Zambrano stated he couldn’t work out the listening to date. As well as, a Division of Homeland Safety spokesperson stated Barreto had instructed authorities he had beforehand been convicted of homicide. We obtained Venezuelan court docket information confirming a homicide conviction. In response to the doc, he was sentenced to fifteen years in jail. His companion denied that he dedicated the crime.
Picture: Courtesy of household
Eliminated below: Elimination orderA formal deportation choice by a decide or immigration officers
Jheison Moisés Depablos Requena22 years outdated
Little public info is out there about Depablos’ life in Venezuela or within the U.S. apart from that he lived in Washington state and that he has a tattoo of rosary beads on his forearm, based on pictures on his family members’ social media accounts. It’s unclear if his tattoo performed a job within the authorities labeling him a member of the Tren de Aragua gang.
U.S. authorities knowledge we obtained lists Depablos as having pending legal prices. We discovered information exhibiting that, in December 2024, he was arrested and charged with trying to steal clothes value roughly $350 from a Macy’s in Lynnwood, Washington. It’s unclear if he entered a plea or how the case was resolved based mostly on the information we obtained.
Picture: Fb
Eliminated below: Alien Enemies ActA wartime act invoked by the Trump administration to expedite deportations
Wilken Rafael Flores Jiménez23 years outdated
Flores labored at a butcher store and as a supply driver in Venezuela earlier than migrating to the U.S., his mom instructed us. He was detained at his December appointment with U.S. border officers made by way of the CBP One app, which the Biden administration used to attempt to carry order to the hovering numbers of migrants trying to enter the nation. He remained in federal custody till he was despatched to El Salvador. It’s unclear if his tattoos, which embrace a crown, a rose and a picture of the soccer star Lionel Messi, performed a job within the authorities labeling him a member of the Tren de Aragua gang.
He was not flagged as having legal convictions or pending prices in U.S. authorities knowledge that we obtained, and we discovered no associated court docket or police information.
Picture: Fb
Eliminated below: Elimination orderA formal deportation choice by a decide or immigration officers
Henrry José Albornoz Quintero29 years outdated
Albornoz lived in Peru for about 4 years earlier than migrating to the U.S. along with his spouse in January 2024, a few yr earlier than he was detained. After crossing the border, they turned themselves in to authorities and requested asylum. A skilled mechanic, Albornoz discovered jobs doing repairs and delivering meals in Texas. His spouse was 9 months pregnant when he was despatched to El Salvador; their son was born two weeks later. “He was so excited, shopping for issues for the child,” his sister instructed us. Throughout his time within the Salvadoran jail, Albornoz’s spouse relied on charity from a neighborhood church to assist the household. Albornoz additionally has a 10-year-old son who struggled to attend college throughout his absence. Albornoz has a tattoo of a dragon on his arm; he additionally has one among a small crown over his coronary heart, which he acquired when his son was born. It’s unclear if the tattoos performed a job within the authorities labeling him a member of the Tren de Aragua gang. Immigration court docket information present he had a pending asylum software when he was deported to El Salvador.
He was not flagged as having legal convictions or pending prices in U.S. authorities knowledge we obtained, and we discovered no associated court docket or police information.
Picture: Telemundo
Eliminated below: Alien Enemies ActA wartime act invoked by the Trump administration to expedite deportations
Deibin Gualtero Quiroz39 years outdated
Gualtero is the daddy of 5 kids, based on an interview his mom gave to VTV, a state-run Venezuelan tv station. Earlier than starting his journey north, Gualtero lived in Colombia, the place he made furnishings. He later moved to Mexico, the place he labored in residence restore. Round December 2024, he crossed the U.S.-Mexico border and turned himself in to immigration authorities, a course of many immigrants comply with to hunt asylum. He remained in custody till he was despatched to El Salvador. It’s unclear if Gualtero’s tattoos, which embrace a flower and ski masks, performed a job within the authorities labeling him a member of the Tren de Aragua gang.
He was not flagged as having legal convictions or pending prices in U.S. authorities knowledge that we obtained, and we discovered no associated court docket or police information.
Picture: Fb
Eliminated below: Elimination orderA formal deportation choice by a decide or immigration officers
Rosme Alexander Colina Argüelles30 years outdated
Colina migrated to the U.S. in 2023 along with his companion and two kids, his mom instructed a Venezuelan journalist on Instagram. On the time of his deportation, he lived in Texas, the place he labored in development and for a transferring firm. It’s unclear if his tattoos, which embrace a crown with the names of his mom and daughter, performed a job within the authorities labeling him a member of the gang Tren de Aragua.
He was not flagged as having legal convictions or pending prices in U.S. authorities knowledge that we obtained, and we discovered no associated court docket or police information.
Picture: Instagram
Eliminated below: Elimination orderA formal deportation choice by a decide or immigration officers
Daniel Alberto Lozano Camargo20 years outdated
Lozano lived in Colombia earlier than migrating to the U.S. as an unaccompanied minor simply earlier than he turned 18. As soon as within the U.S., he lived in Houston, the place he met his companion, Leslie Aranda, a U.S. citizen. She stated Lozano acquired his work authorization card, however he principally washed and detailed the automobiles of purchasers he discovered on Fb. He lived with Aranda and her younger daughter, whom she stated he handled like his personal, even tattooing her title on his arm. It’s unclear if his tattoos, which additionally embrace a rose and crown over his niece’s title, performed a job within the authorities labeling him a member of the Tren de Aragua gang. A 2024 authorized settlement barred authorities from deporting Lozano and different unaccompanied minors in the course of their asylum processes.
U.S. authorities knowledge we obtained lists Lozano as having a legal conviction for harmful medication. We discovered information exhibiting that, in January, Lozano pleaded responsible to a felony drug possession cost in Harris County, Texas. Aranda stated she anticipated Lozano would face penalties for his drug prices, and she or he had resigned herself to his potential deportation to Venezuela. “He’s no completely different than anybody else who commits against the law,” she instructed us. “However what I’m not OK with is that this complete strategy of him being despatched to El Salvador.”
Picture: Courtesy of household
Eliminated below: Alien Enemies ActA wartime act invoked by the Trump administration to expedite deportations
