Mervin Yamarte, a Venezuelan man living in the U.S., was deported to El Salvador’s megaprison after a controversial arrest. Learn about his story and the legal complexities behind his deportation.

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Mervin Yamarte, a 29-year-old Venezuelan man who had started a new life in the United States, now finds himself in a desperate situation after being deported to El Salvador’s notorious megaprison.

Yamarte, along with three friends he shared a home with in Dallas, was detained by armed agents last Thursday. During the arrest, they were asked to sign deportation documents, leading them to believe they would soon return to Venezuela, their home country.

Mervin’s mother, Mercedes Yamarte, received a call from her son informing her of his arrest. However, what followed was an unexpected and terrifying twist. The next day, Mercedes saw a video posted by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele showing alleged gang members being violently removed from planes and taken to a prison known for human rights abuses. In the video, her son appeared briefly, kneeling and visibly injured, leaving her speechless.

The four friends, who grew up playing soccer together in Venezuela, had fled their country’s crisis in search of a better future. However, their hopes were shattered when they were arrested and sent to a detention center in Texas. Their families still do not know the charges they face, as their names do not appear in federal, state, or local court records.

The situation became even more complicated when it was revealed that Mervin had been deported under a decree signed by former President Donald Trump, invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

This law allows for the rapid expulsion of Venezuelans accused of belonging to criminal groups, without the opportunity to present their case before a judge. Although a federal judge blocked the use of this authority, several planes landed in El Salvador shortly after Yamarte’s arrest.

So far, the White House and the Department of Homeland Security have not confirmed whether Yamarte and his friends were deported under this law. The speed at which they were detained and sent to El Salvador suggests that this procedure may have been used in their case.

Mervin Yamarte’s family now faces agonizing uncertainty about their loved one’s future, as his deportation drama serves as a stark reminder of the dangers many migrants face in their pursuit of a better life.

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