At least 50 Venezuelan men, previously sent to prisons in El Salvador under the Trump administration, have legally entered the United States, as revealed by a review from the Cato Institute.
A report published Monday by the libertarian think tank examined available immigration data for several individuals deported to El Salvador’s notorious Centre for Terrorism Confinement (CECOT), focusing particularly on available records.
“The government labels them all ‘illegal aliens.’ But, among 90 cases where the methods of crossing are known, 50 men claim they entered the US legally at official border crossings, with prior authorization from the US government,” the report states.
This situation appears to align with a broader trend among Venezuelan immigrants, many of whom have arrived as refugees or through a parole program established during Biden’s presidency, which offers two-year work permits alongside US-based sponsors.
“While that percentage is noteworthy, the actual number is quite surprising,” the report comments. “Dozens of legal immigrants have lost their status and are now imprisoned in El Salvador.”
Cato’s analysis indicates that, contrary to the justifications provided by the Trump administration, only undocumented individuals were deported.
The report notes that after arriving at the entry point, 21 men were recognized, 24 received parole, four were resettled as refugees, and one entered the US on a tourist visa.
In March, the Trump administration deported over 200 gang members to the Cecot Mega-Prison, invoking controversial alien enemy laws. CECOT facilities are notorious for their harsh conditions, and lawyers representing deportees argue that migrants there endure physical and emotional “torture.”
The deportations have faced intense scrutiny. So far, the Trump administration has not made a full record available about the more than 200 Venezuelans transferred to El Salvador. The Cato review includes details focused on 174 men, utilizing some public documents.
Claims from the Trump administration about gang affiliations among many deported Venezuelan men often seem to hinge on tattoos, which can be misleading.
In fact, many tattoos cited as evidence don’t necessarily indicate gang involvement, reflecting personal or cultural expressions instead.
For instance, makeup artist Andrie Jose Hernandez Romero has a crown tattoo that signifies the celebration of the Three Kings Day in his Venezuelan hometown.
This report surfaces amid a significant crackdown on US immigration policies. Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration may continue attempts to revoke the temporary protected status (TPS) for Venezuelans. Ending TPS—a provision that safeguards foreigners unable to return home due to war, natural disasters, or other extraordinary situations—could potentially expose around 350,000 individuals to deportation.
