Immigrant assistance groups have confirmed that at least one detainee from the immigration detention facility in Aurora has been sent to an El Salvadoran prison. Nixon Azuaje-Perez, a 19-year-old Venezuelan migrant, was transported to Texas before being flown to El Salvador. Advocates dispute the gang ties attributed to Azuaje-Perez and other detained men by U.S. officials.
Azuaje-Perez left Venezuela at 13, seeking asylum in the U.S. with his family in 2023. After residing in New York City, he moved to Aurora for job opportunities. He was arrested in July 2023 for tampering with evidence related to a shooting and was released from jail before being taken into ICE custody in September.
Advocacy groups believe Azuaje-Perez was sent to El Salvador on March 15, with more than 250 detainees, including many Venezuelan migrants, being flown there in recent months. ICE has not provided further details on the situation.
The case has raised concerns among immigrant advocates about the treatment of detainees and the conditions in El Salvadoran prisons. The fate of Azuaje-Perez and others sent to the country remains uncertain, with the advocacy groups calling for more transparency and accountability in the immigration detention process.
The Aurora Police Department and ICE have been under scrutiny for their handling of Azuaje-Perez’s case, with questions raised about his alleged gang ties and the reasons for his deportation. The situation highlights the challenges faced by immigrants in detention and the need for reform in the U.S. immigration system.
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