OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON THE DEPORTATIONS OF VENEZUELANS TO EL SALVADOR AND THE CRIMINALIZATION OF MIGRATION

In relation to the recent deportations of Venezuelan citizens to El Salvador and the previous deportation flights to Caracas, the Coalition for Venezuela Federation expresses its strongest rejection of the irregularities and violations of fundamental rights that have characterized these procedures.
This federation has received with deep concern reports and informations about the lack of clarity in the selection process of deported individuals.

The lack of transparency in the parameters linking the deportees to the criminal gang “Tren de Aragua” is alarming and raises serious doubts about the justice and equity of the decisions taken, especially in the face of the apparent criminalization of an entire nationality linked to a criminal group without individualizing the cases. Alarming is the profiling of people for deportation for the use of tattoos or immigration status pending resolution under the same parameter of the commission of crimes or as justification for the most serious measures: deportation and incarceration.

We also denounce alleged violations of due process, including the lack of communication between deportees and their lawyers, little or no access to official information on the selection of each case, and the restriction of the right to defense. Denying access to legal defense is a flagrant violation of basic human rights and an attack on fundamental principles of justice, even in those suspected of committing crimes.

The Coalition for Venezuela Federation also expresses its rejection of the omission of the separation of powers in the United States. The express disregard for compliance with the decision of Federal Judge James E. Boasberg, of the District of Columbia, which temporarily blocked deportations for 14 days, constitutes an unacceptable disregard for the legal framework and an affront to judicial independence, contributing to the instability of the country and its democratic foundations. The timely reparation and restitution of those not involved in these criminal structures must be immediate and proportional to the damage, as well as access to justice for those who are in fact linked to the Tren de Aragua in order to be responsible before the law under the appropriate procedures established in the ordinary American justice system.

We call on the competent authorities to thoroughly investigate these complaints and to guarantee respect for human rights and due process in any migration or international protection procedure. Coalition for Venezuela reaffirms its commitment to the defense of the rights of Venezuelans abroad and will continue to work for fair, humane and transparent migration.

Finally, it is essential to highlight the valuable contribution of Venezuelans to the host societies and their clear willingness to access mechanisms for safe, orderly and regular migration, under the rules established by the United States Government itself. Proof of this are the more than 600,000 cases of applicants for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), the more than 500,000 Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan migrants who entered the country under the Humanitarian Parole program, the more than 132,000 cases of asylum seekers pending resolution and, in general, those hundreds of thousands who, through the Safe Mobility Offices, they had pending resettlement to U.S. territory.
All of them complied with the legal and transparent processes established by the U.S. government and are now criminalized for complying with the law, the others already established promote the growth of the United States of America favoring its welfare state.

Migrating is not a crime, it is, on the contrary, a right and as such must be respected and protected.

Coalición por Venezuela
Miami, March 17, 2025