Jhoanna Sanguino was 11 years outdated when she held her nephew in her arms for the primary time.
She advised Day by day Kos there was now not a cause to play with dolls. She lastly had “a real baby boy in my arms.”
And whereas her nephew is now a 24-year-old who towers over her, she fears holding him once more would possibly by no means be attainable.
In March, Widmer Josneyder Agelviz Sanguino was one in every of greater than 250 undocumented immigrants who have been illegally faraway from the U.S. and thrown into El Salvador’s infamous terrorism confinement heart, often known as CECOT.
CECOT was constructed by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele as a way to crack down on the nation’s excessive crime charges and gang exercise. The utmost safety jail can home as much as 40,000 inmates however is thought for its overcrowding and inhumane circumstances. Since President Donald Trump and Bukele joined forces earlier this yr, a bit of these beds are actually reserved for males who Trump claims have been harmful Tren de Aragua gang members terrorizing the U.S.
Movies from contained in the jail present males with shaved heads sleeping on laborious, mattress-free cots stacked on high of one another. Just like an animal’s watering gap, the cells function rectangular bathtub-like buildings close to the bars the place prisoners are compelled to wash in clear view of guards and the opposite inhabitants.
Imagining what Widmer goes by is hellish for his devoted aunt—however she refuses to cease combating for his protected return.
“He’s currently deprived of his freedom,” Jhoanna Sanguino stated of her nephew. “But fortunately, he has a family that’s waiting for him.”
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On June 9, Sanguino travelled from her house in Colombia to El Salvador on behalf of Widmer’s household to plead for any proof of her nephew’s well-being and ask for his launch. She submitted paperwork and statements to a human rights ombudsman and spoke to media about her nephew’s plight.
“I haven’t rested since he disappeared,” she stated after returning house.
The journey price over $1,500—not a small quantity for the household. Regardless of her efforts, Jhoanna left solely with a receipt from the penal heart acknowledging the numerous paperwork she submitted to show her nephew’s innocence.
Efforts to assist advocate for Widmer’s launch additionally prolonged to his native nation of Venezuela.
On June 4, a younger woman in Venezuela sang right into a microphone as his members of the family, college lecturers, and associates swayed and waved banners that learn “Josneyder libertad—No soy delincuente,” which interprets to “Free Josneyder—I am not a criminal.”
And whereas the group has rallied to plead his innocence, they’ve additionally grouped collectively to assist fund what will likely be an expensive effort to hopefully free Widmer and assist the household with the mounting authorized and journey prices.
For households just like the Sanguinos, touring to El Salvador from different Central or South American nations to plead innocence on behalf of their family members isn’t a simple or cheap feat.
“It was a team effort,” Jhoanna stated. Whereas she and her husband labored to boost cash to pay for the mandatory visa and different journey bills, Widmer’s mom—who works two jobs whereas elevating two younger kids in Texas—gave what she might as effectively.
“Widmer’s girlfriend, who is alone in Ecuador, organized a raffle with her coworkers,” she added.
Jhoanna needed to supply encouragement to different households who could also be misplaced or overwhelmed when eager about mounting comparable efforts.
“It’s attainable with group, self-discipline, and most significantly, don’t journey illegally,” she stated. “Get your documents in order, gather information ahead of time, and start raising funds.”
After discovering Widmer was one of many tons of of Venezuelan males onboard the primary aircraft to El Salvador, the Sanguino household initially filed a lawsuit towards Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem. In it, they demanded data on his whereabouts and for his proper to authorized illustration. In contrast to typical authorized circumstances within the U.S., these males have been denied any rights to due course of and shipped to a overseas jail with none proof they’d dedicated against the law.
On Might 27, the agency representing Widmer’s household dismissed the lawsuit with the choice to refile sooner or later. It’s unclear why the case has been dismissed; Day by day Kos contacted the household’s lawyer for remark however didn’t instantly hear again.
Like lots of the detained, Widmer has no previous prison document within the U.S. or some other nation he has resided in. His aunt describes him as a “dreamer” who’s “cheerful, intelligent, affectionate, respectful” and “skipped the rebellious phase of adolescence.”
He entered the nation in September 2024 along with his mom and two youthful brothers underneath the United Nations Refugee Resettlement Program—a corporation recognized to take years to vet candidates earlier than approving them.
“To be admitted under that program, he underwent a full legal, psychological, and health review,” Jhoanna stated. “These organizations don’t relocate criminals.”
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However Widmer was detained on the U.S. border upon entry by an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agent on the premise of his tattoos being gang-affiliated.
His tattoos—an owl, a clock, and a rose—have been sufficient to maintain him from reuniting along with his mom in Texas. And whereas he was in a position to talk whereas he was in U.S. detention amenities, his household has not had any communication with him since he was deported to El Salvador.
Authorities officers haven’t elaborated on any extra proof and the courtroom case has been sealed to the general public.
“To label someone a criminal, there must be a process—an investigation, a trial, and then a ruling,” Jhoanna insisted.
“None of that has been done for Widmer. Why? Because they have no proof. The only ‘evidence’ they have is that he’s Venezuelan and has tattoos. But tattoos don’t define us—they don’t make someone a criminal.”
In a press release offered to Day by day Kos, Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that Widmer is a member of Tren de Aragua who’s “now out of our country and behind bars where he belongs.”
“DHS intelligence assessments go effectively past simply gang affiliate tattoos and social media. We’re assured in our legislation enforcement’s intelligence, and we aren’t going to share intelligence stories and undermine nationwide safety each time a gang member denies he’s one. That will be insane.”
Nonetheless, Jhoanna believes her go to to El Salvador to plead her nephew’s case offered a glimmer of hope.
“Before the trip, there was a lot of sadness, anguish, desperation, anxiety. As a family, we’ve mixed days with nights looking for a solution, seeking help to get them released and bring the truth to light,” she stated.
“I feel this trip has set a precedent and has been a breakthrough in this entire process—not just for Widmer, but for the 252 Venezuelans who are being held there.”
Up to now, just one man who was despatched to El Salvador—Kilmar Abrego García—has been returned to U.S. custody after the courts declared he was wrongfully imprisoned. Regardless of the Trump administration dropping claims that he’s a harmful MS-13 gang chief, the Maryland father was shortly hit with new expenses of human smuggling—or a trumped-up accusation of giving different immigrants a journey to a job website.
Regardless of the chances, the fee, and the space, Jhoanna’s hope for the nephew she loves as a lot as if he have been her personal baby hasn’t faltered.
“They’ve shattered his dreams, but I have faith he’ll soon be free and will pursue the life he planned,” she stated. “This has been an incredibly difficult time in our lives, but I repeat: Here I am, and he has a family that hasn’t stopped fighting.”
“I know his release is near. The trip wasn’t easy—raising the money, doing the paperwork to enter the country legally—but if I have to do it again, I will,” Jhoanna stated. “I won’t rest until I have my child in my arms.”
Senior editor Erika Chavez contributed to this report.
