Bluebonnet Detention Center Detainees Claim “SOS” Amid deportation Fears

Reuters

ANSON,⁤ Texas – Detainees at the⁢ Bluebonnet immigrant detention center in Anson,⁤ Texas, issued a⁣ distress signal this ⁢week, raising concerns about potential deportations.

On Monday, a group of 31 men formed the letters “SOS” in the ⁤detention center’s courtyard as a drone flew overhead, according too⁤ Reuters.

The demonstration follows ⁢notifications received by dozens of Venezuelan detainees approximately 10 days prior. Immigration officials reportedly informed them they were considered members of the Aragua gang and subject to deportation under a law dating back to 1798, according to documents, recorded video calls,⁢ and ⁢court records reviewed by Reuters.

Detainees’ Families⁢ Deny Gang Affiliations

Relatives of seven detainees⁣ interviewed by Reuters refuted the allegations of gang membership, stating the men were not ⁢affiliated with the ⁢Aragua gang. They also claimed‍ they refused‍ to sign documents acknowledging the accusations.

Despite these ⁣denials, detainees ⁤were reportedly loaded onto a bus destined for Abilene Regional Airport on⁢ April⁤ 18, ‍according ‍to the american Civil Liberties Union. ⁢However, the bus returned to the detention⁢ center⁤ without deporting the detainees.

That same evening, ⁤the Supreme Court issued a temporary block on deportations,⁤ according to reports.The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) declined ‍to comment on the suspension.

Fear of⁤ Deportation to el Salvador Prison

The temporary halt provided a reprieve for the Venezuelan detainees at Bluebonnet. However, they still face the possibility of deportation⁢ to CECOT, a⁣ maximum-security prison in El Salvador, should the Supreme Court lift the blockade. Reports indicate that at least ⁤137 Venezuelans have been sent to CECOT under the 1798 law.

The Bluebonnet facility, located approximately 200 miles ‍west of Dallas, ⁢is operated by the management and Training Corporation under contract with Immigration and⁤ Customs Enforcement (ICE). ⁤The facility⁢ has an average daily population of 846 detainees.

Concerns Over ⁢Due Process

On‍ April 26, an immigration official visited the detainees, answering questions regarding their situation, according to⁤ an audio recording obtained by Reuters. The detainees voiced concerns about being sent to El Salvador and the status of their immigration court appointments.

The official stated that expulsion under the Law ⁢of Foreign Enemies was‍ a separate⁢ process from⁤ their scheduled ⁤immigration court hearings. “If you are expelled‍ under the Law of Foreign Enemies, ⁣the date of the trial does not exist,” the official said, according ‍to the recording.

Several detainees questioned how they could⁣ be classified as⁣ “foreign enemies” without any criminal record or gang affiliation.

“If I⁣ don’t have a criminal record in the three⁢ countries in which I have lived,how are⁤ they going to send me to El Salvador?”⁤ one⁤ detainee asked,according to the recording. Reuters was unable to confirm⁤ the detainee’s identity.

The official stated he was ‍not involved in the information gathering process.

Some detainees⁢ had court dates scheduled last week, prompting defense attorneys to seek legal counsel.

One detainee, identified as Millán, has a ⁤pending asylum case with a court date⁤ scheduled for may 1, unless he is deported⁣ to El Salvador before then.

Facility Response

A management spokesman and Training ‍Corporation,which manages the center,said ⁤that “all detainees ‍lodged⁣ in Bluebonnet receive meals based on a ‍menu that has been approved by a certified⁢ dietitian,guaranteeing ⁤that the recommended daily⁣ caloric intake⁣ is fulfilled.”

in ‍a statement, the DHS said that “uses multiple strategies to manage capacity, maintaining compliance ⁤with federal norms and our commitment to ⁤human treatment.”