NY Father's Plea: ICE Detained My Son, Sent Him to El Salvador Prison

Detainment and Deportation of Merwil Gutiérrez

• 💔 A New York father, Wilmer Gutiérrez, recounts the detention of his 19-year-old son, Merwil Gutiérrez, by ICE agents in the Bronx.
• ❓ Merwil was arrested despite having an open asylum case in the US and no criminal history or tattoos, which officials have used to label immigrants as gang members.
• ✈️ He was subsequently flown to El Salvador and is being held incommunicado in a mega-prison, a facility known for human rights abuses.

Mistaken Identity and Due Process Concerns

• 🚨 Witnesses report that ICE agents were initially searching for a different person but arrested Merwil anyway.
• ⚖️ Wilmer Gutiérrez emphasizes that his son was not charged with a crime, did not have a trial, and was effectively kidnapped without due process.
• 🚫 The family fears for Merwil's safety and mental well-being, highlighting that he is still a child whose mentality has not fully matured.

Broader Immigration Policies and ICE Actions

• 🌍 The case is presented against the backdrop of May Day protests and the Trump administration's broader crackdown on immigrants and asylum seekers.
• 📢 Reports suggest the administration is exploring sending immigrants to countries like Rwanda and Libya, even those without criminal records.
• 🗣️ Wilmer Gutiérrez is calling on the US and El Salvadoran governments to facilitate his son's release, stating that if immigrants are not wanted, they should be deported to their native countries, not to prisons.

Reporting and Advocacy Efforts

• 📰 Ethar El-Katatney, editor-in-chief of Documented, highlights that nearly 75% of the 238 deported individuals in this group have no criminal record.
• 📢 Wilmer Gutiérrez decided to speak out to expose the anti-humanitarian violations and to make the world aware of his son's plight.
• ✊ Despite media attention and statements from politicians, there has been no update on Merwil's situation, and the lawyer involved has no new information.

A Father's Message of Hope

• 💪 Wilmer urges his son to be strong, assuring him that his family is doing everything possible to secure his release.
• 📢 He reiterates that not all Venezuelans are criminals as portrayed by the government and calls for due process, stating that such treatment is worse than what animals deserve.
• 🤝 Wilmer expresses hope for reunification, emphasizing their lifelong closeness and the pain of their current separation.