Detainees Signal Sos Outside Migrant Facility Ahead Of Deportations

An image captured by a Reuters drone is drafting nationalist attention. At a detention halfway successful Texas, dozens of detainees — immoderate alleged to beryllium members of nan Tren de Aragua pack — stood successful a courtyard pronunciation retired “SOS.”

Reuters reported that nan individuals seen wearing reddish jumpsuits person been designated arsenic “high-risk.”

Deportations temporarily halted by Supreme Court

At slightest immoderate of nan detainees had already received deportation orders from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. According to nan ACLU, those detainees were en way to nan airdrome for removal to a high-security situation successful El Salvador erstwhile their autobus abruptly turned backmost to nan detention center, pursuing nan U.S. Supreme Court’s determination to halt deportations nether nan Alien Enemies Act.

Reuters besides reported conducting telephone interviews pinch immoderate of nan detainees, who said they feared being sent to El Salvador’s prison, known for its harsh conditions and crackdown connected pack members.

Families conflict pack ties

According to Reuters, citing detainees and their families, immoderate men accused of being portion of nan Tren de Aragua pack are denying immoderate pack affiliation.

Among nan detainees was Diover Millan, a Venezuelan who came to nan U.S. successful 2023. His woman told Reuters he had nary criminal grounds and had been granted impermanent protected status. She said he told her, “I’m scared,” aft he was arrested successful Atlanta, Georgia, past month.

Detainees speak to The Guardian

The Guardian besides reached immoderate detainees by telephone. During a telephone question and reply from nan Bluebonnet Detention Center, a man named Escalona stated that he had nary ties to Tren de Aragua aliases immoderate different gang. He claimed he had worked arsenic a constabulary serviceman successful Venezuela.

Escalona said U.S. authorities took his telephone erstwhile he was detained and apt saw images of him making manus gestures that are communal successful Venezuela. “They’re making mendacious accusations astir me,” he said. “I don’t beryllium to immoderate gang.”

DHS responds to reporting connected SOS image

In consequence to media reports and nan viral SOS image, nan Department of Homeland Security issued statements connected X.

“The existent communicative present is that nan Biden management was releasing pack members into American communities,” DHS wrote. The agency says that Escalona is simply a “self-admitted Tren de Aragua pack member” who entered nan U.S. illegally connected March 27, 2024, and was arrested for felony evading apprehension pinch a vehicle. He remains successful ICE custody astatine nan Bluebonnet Detention Center pending deportation.

The agency besides claimed that Diover Millan is simply a “documented member” of Tren de Aragua. According to DHS, Millan was arrested by Border Patrol connected May 3, 2023, released nether nan erstwhile administration, and later detained by ICE successful March 2025.

In a abstracted station aimed astatine Reuters, DHS stated: “Reuters ‘reporting’ fails to mention that nan Biden Administration released 2 Tren de Aragua pack members into American communities. President Trump and Secretary Noem person ended drawback and merchandise and will not let criminal gangs to terrorize American citizens.”

Migration from Venezuela

Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans person entered nan U.S. successful caller years, galore legally nether humanitarian protections extended by nan Biden management successful consequence to nan country’s economic collapse nether Nicolás Maduro’s regime.

An FBI appraisal past month recovered that immoderate Venezuelan authorities officials “likely facilitate” nan migration of Tren de Aragua pack members to nan U.S. successful an effort to “destabilize” nan state and “undermine” nationalist safety.

Deportations are ‘pending’

As for nan migrants presently held astatine nan Bluebonnet Detention Center, while reports propose nan caller Supreme Court ruling stalled their deportations, nan Trump management maintains that their deportations are simply “pending.”