By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Nineteen-year-old Merwil Gutiérrez, a Venezuelan with no criminal record, was deported to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act despite having a pending U.S. immigration case. His deportation, along with that of hundreds of other Venezuelans, followed a pattern of unjustified arrests and deportations to a notorious prison, raising concerns about due process violations. This action, mirroring similar cases detailed in a 60 Minutes report, highlights the questionable practices of deporting individuals to countries where they lack connections, even in cases where no criminal activity is involved. The family is seeking his return, citing a lack of transparency and the violation of his legal rights.
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The reported deportation of a 19-year-old Venezuelan teenager, Merwil Gutiérrez, to a prison in El Salvador under the Trump administration is raising serious concerns. This wasn’t simply a case of sending someone back to their home country; Merwil had no criminal record in either Venezuela or the United States, and he’d never even set foot in El Salvador before. His arrest, according to his father, Wilmer, was abrupt and seemingly arbitrary, occurring right outside their Bronx apartment building. The officers involved, it seems, weren’t even certain they had the right person, but took him anyway. This raises questions about the due process and legality of his apprehension.
The incident is described not as a deportation, but as an abduction, a forceful removal to a foreign prison without any legal basis. Merwil was in the US with his father and other family members, having fled the Maduro regime in Venezuela seeking economic stability. He was in the process of legally navigating the US immigration system, even having received his immigration papers and a court date scheduled for 2027. This makes the events surrounding his arrest even more troubling.
This alleged act is all the more alarming given the destination: El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a facility plagued by accusations of human rights abuses. Sending a teenager with no criminal history to such a prison is deeply disturbing, and it raises serious questions about the morality and legality of the actions taken by the Trump administration and ICE agents. It paints a picture not of immigration enforcement but of potential human rights violations.
The circumstances surrounding Merwil’s case, as described, suggest a pattern of unjust deportations under the Trump administration. A report by 60 Minutes indicated that a significant percentage of Venezuelans deported under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which was used as justification in Merwil’s case, lacked criminal records. These individuals, many of whom were wrongly accused of gang affiliations, were sent to El Salvador without proper legal proceedings.
The case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia further underscores the severity of the situation. He was wrongly deported to CECOT due to an “administrative error,” and despite a Supreme Court order for his return, the Trump administration ignored the ruling. This blatant disregard for court orders and legal procedures is deeply troubling. His wife, an American citizen, publicly pleaded with both the Trump administration and the El Salvadoran government to intervene.
The use of the term “deportation” itself is being challenged. Many argue this isn’t a simple case of sending someone back to their country of origin; it’s more akin to political imprisonment or, some even say, a form of extrajudicial rendition to a country notorious for human rights violations. The lack of due process, the absence of any criminal charges, and the sending of the teenager to a specific prison, not just a country, highlight the gravity of the situation.
The fear and anger expressed by commentators are palpable. There’s a sense of outrage over the administration’s disregard for due process and human rights, and many feel this represents a slippery slope towards a society where anyone can be targeted and disappeared without recourse. The concern is that this isn’t an isolated incident, and that such actions could easily escalate and target anyone, regardless of their background or legal status.
The lack of accountability is also a major concern. While the details surrounding Merwil’s case are shocking, the seeming impunity with which the Trump administration allegedly acted, and the apparent inaction of subsequent administrations, is even more alarming. There’s a widespread feeling that those responsible for such actions must be held accountable. These fears aren’t just limited to specific communities; they’re shared across a wider spectrum, highlighting a fundamental distrust in the system and the rule of law. The sheer callousness of sending a young man to a dangerous prison in a foreign country he’s never known, all without proper legal recourse, is a deeply unsettling development. The events surrounding Merwil Gutiérrez’s case stand as a stark reminder of the potential consequences when fundamental rights and due process are disregarded.