The asylum seeker entered the US legally after he was tortured for protesting Venezuela's authoritarian regime
Morgan Music / Updated Mar 21 2025, 10:18 AM EDT
The asylum seeker entered the US legally after he was tortured for protesting Venezuela's authoritarian regime
A professional soccer player seeking asylum in the US was deported to El Salvador under the Aliens Enemy Act.
Immigration officials accused Jerce Reyes Barrios of gang membership—based on a tattoo and a hand gesture he made in a photo on social media.
A former professional player and youth soccer coach, Reyes Barrios was detained by ICE in September 2024 after legally presenting himself at the border through the CBP One app. He had fled Venezuela after he was imprisoned and tortured for his participation in a protest against the authoritarian Maduro regime.
Despite having no criminal record and providing evidence supporting his asylum claim, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) alleged Reyes Barrios was a member of the Tren de Aragua gang. In early March, he was abruptly moved to a detainment facility in Texas, then deported to El Salvador on March 15.
More:
https://www.latintimes.com/ice-deported-professional-soccer-player-after-i-love-you-sign-language-symbol-was-interpreted-578912
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