Guantánamo transfers and deportation policies collided dramatically this week as three Venezuelan migrants experienced a fleeting legal victory. After a federal judge blocked their transfer to Guantánamo Bay on Sunday, Luis Eduardo Perez Parra, Leonel Rivas Gonzalez, and Abrahan Josue Barrios were abruptly deported Monday—marking the first removal flight to Venezuela in over a year.
Their attorney, Jessica Vosburgh, condemned the timing as retaliatory.
The court order only applied to Guantánamo,she stated. This deportation is a slap in the face to justice.Court filings reveal:
- Two petitioners had no criminal history
- One faced non-violent charges
- All endured 12+ months in detention with psychological distress
Venezuelan migrants now face heightened risks after Trump officials falsely labeled them Tren de Aragua gang members—a claim potentially life-threatening under Maduro’s regime. Legal documents emphasize: Labeling migrants as gang affiliates fuels dangerous rhetoric while separating families permanently.
Despite reuniting with relatives, the men suffer lasting trauma from solitary confinement and denied medical care. Rivas Gonzalez hasn’t hugged his daughter in 18 months—half her lifetime. Analysts warn this case could set alarming precedents for immigration policy transparency and retaliatory enforcement tactics.