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Rep. Jayapal hails return of deported Venezuelans
The Trump administration used provisions of 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador.
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Thu, 24, Jul 2025
- 02:09 EDT
- 27
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal / X/@Pramila Jayapal
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, a Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement expressed gratitude for the return of the immigrants deported by Donald Trump in March, 2025.
Numerous Venezuelans were deported to El Salvador after U.S. President Donald Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang without normal immigration procedures.
Even though the draconian law is limited in its scope to times of war or threat of enemy invasion or incursion, the Trump administration has used its provisions that enable deportation without proper judicial trial to deport immigrants to countries with which the deported individual has no connection.
ALSO READ: Wrongly deported migrant Abrego scores legal wins, but remains behind bars
The alleged gang-ties were denied by lawyers and family members of many of the deported individuals and Trump's move was criticized by human rights groups internationally.
In a statement, Rep. Jayapal expressed joy over the safe return of the deported individuals and said, "I am grateful that United States citizens held by the oppressive Maduro regime are finally able to come home and be reunited with their loved ones. Many of these Americans had been unjustly detained for years."
I’m grateful that US citizens held by the Maduro regime are finally able to be reunited with their loved ones. At the same time, I am outraged that this admin continues to lie to the American people about those deported with no due process.
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) July 18, 2025
My full statement: pic.twitter.com/BMelKx3ViZ
After returning from El Salvador, many former detainees talked to media outlets, narrating tales of torture and suffering.
Alirio Belloso, a 30-year-old immigrant, told Reuters that he was beaten in prison. He said, "They beat us with their hands, shields and clubs, everywhere on our bodies."
He added, "I thought if we're already dead then why die in fear, it is better to die fighting."
In a sharp rebuke to the administration's moves, Jayapal said, “I am outraged that President Trump and his administration continue to lie to the American people."
She added, "They claimed that the individuals he had shipped off to El Salvador with no due process were under the complete control of the El Salvadoran government, and the administration had no ability to bring them back to the United States for their fair day in court. Today’s announcement shows that it was false."
Addressing the issue of Venezuelan asylum seekers, she said “I am also devastated for the many Venezuelans who came to the U.S., who never committed a crime, and many of whom were fleeing persecution from the Maduro regime, are now being sent back into the hands of their persecutors. "
She added, "These individuals, like Andry Hernandez Romero, were never able to present their asylum claim and were sent out of this country in violation of our constitution and our laws."
Jayapal ended her statement by saying, “We will hold this administration accountable for its continued lawlessness.”
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