Arturo Suarez, a 34-year-old singer from Venezuela, is currently imprisoned in a notorious jail in El Salvador. Just five weeks ago, he was performing in the United States while awaiting his asylum claim. Now, he finds himself accused by the Trump administration of being a gang member, a claim that has not been substantiated with any evidence.
Arturo entered the U.S. through legal channels, and his only apparent "crime," according to his brother Nelson, is being Venezuelan and having tattoos. Nelson believes the tattoos are the reason for Arturo’s detention, as he insists his brother has no criminal record in any country, including the U.S.
Arturo was arrested in March while shooting a music video. He was initially taken to a deportation center in El Paso, Texas, before being sent on a military flight to El Salvador. Since then, his family has lost contact with him. Nelson discovered Arturo’s likely location in CECOT prison after spotting a photograph of inmates on a news site. The prison is known for housing members of violent gangs like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua.
Nelson identified his brother in a photo by a distinctive hummingbird tattoo on his neck, which Arturo got in memory of their mother. He also has numerous other tattoos, including a piano and biblical verses. Despite this, there is no evidence to suggest Arturo has any ties to gangs.
The Trump administration’s actions stem from a new law signed in March that allows for the detention and deportation of immigrants from countries deemed enemies. The administration claims that the Tren de Aragua gang has infiltrated the U.S. and is conducting irregular warfare. This has led to the deportation of over 200 Venezuelan men, many of whom, like Arturo, have no criminal backgrounds.
Lawyers and immigrant rights groups have struggled to contact those imprisoned in CECOT. One such case is Jerce Reyes Barrios, a former footballer who was also deported under similar circumstances. His lawyer argues that Reyes Barrios was labeled a gang member based on a tattoo of the Real Madrid logo and a photograph from his college days, where he made a gesture misinterpreted as a gang sign.
Families of those detained are in distress, fearing for their loved ones’ well-being. They are seeking help from organizations like the United Nations to conduct wellness checks, as the prison operates in complete isolation. The Department of Homeland Security has faced criticism for its handling of these cases, with many calling for due process and fair treatment.
As the situation unfolds, families continue to pray for the safe return of their loved ones, while officials like Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, reinforce the administration’s hardline stance on immigration. The plight of Arturo Suarez and others like him raises serious questions about the treatment of immigrants and the justification behind their detention.