Venezuelan lawyers filed a habeas corpus petition in El Salvador to secure the release of 238 Venezuelans deported by the U.S. The petition demands justification for their detention, asserting that those represented are not associated with criminal activity. The deportation is framed by the U.S. under an outdated wartime law, raising critical legal questions.

On Monday, attorneys representing the Venezuelan government filed a legal petition in El Salvador aimed at securing the release of 238 Venezuelans who have been deported by the United States and are currently detained in a maximum-security prison. Jaime Ortega, who advocates for 30 of these individuals, stated that the habeas corpus petition was submitted to the Supreme Court’s Constitutional Chamber, with a request to extend its application to all Venezuelans imprisoned in the country.

This legal action compels the El Salvadoran government to demonstrate that the detentions of the individuals are justified. Of note, the Salvadoran authorities have remained silent regarding the status of these Venezuelan detainees, even following a verbal directive from a U.S. federal judge to prevent their transport.

The Trump administration justifies the deportation under an 18th-century wartime law, claiming that these individuals are members of the Tren de Aragua gang, which has been categorized as an invading force. Ortega emphasized, “We represent at this moment 30 Venezuelans who have given us the power to act, but by extension, we are asking for habeas corpus for the rest of the Venezuelan citizens who are detained in our country.”

Salvador Ríos, another legal representative, disclosed that their legal services were engaged by the Venezuelan government and the Families of Immigrants Committee in Venezuela. He contended that those they represent are not affiliated with the Tren de Aragua gang and hold no criminal records, having migrated from Venezuela in search of better opportunities.

In an earlier development, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele had proposed to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio the possibility of housing U.S. deportees, or even American citizens serving sentences, in El Salvador’s prison system. The arrangement is financially supported by the U.S. government, aiming for cost-saving benefits for both nations. However, the legal grounds for imprisoning migrants who have not been convicted of any crimes remains contested by legal experts in both countries.

The Venezuelan government’s legal petition in El Salvador seeks to challenge the detention of Venezuelans deported by the U.S. under the premise of habeas corpus. This case highlights the ongoing legal and ethical debates surrounding the deportation practices of the U.S. and the subsequent treatment of migrants in El Salvador. Furthermore, questions surrounding the legal justification for detaining individuals with no charges continue to arise, further complicating the matter.

Original Source: www.clickorlando.com

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