This is Josue Basto Lizcano (27). He told his mom a year and a half ago that he was going to try to go to the US to earn money to help her and the rest of his family. He tried to enter the U.S. legally on September 7, 2024 via the CBP One app. But Josue was detained that day, and was never released, said his sister Yesika Basto.
She told NPR that after the November presidential election, her brother "told us immigration agents were accusing him of being Tren de Aragua." "He's not part of any gang," Yesika Basto said, adding that her brother doesn't have a criminal record in Venezuela or Colombia, the two places he's lived.
"He can't have any criminal record in the U.S. because he's never been free."She described her brother as someone who loves adventure. In Colombia he worked for a tourism company as a driver. He also helped in the family's cabinetmaking business.Josue has multiple tattoos, including a clock that marks the time of his son's birth, a rose, and stars.
“They’re just a style, a style of the young. My son is not a criminal. He is a worker, a good son” Josue’s mother, Esmeralda Lizcano said.
Esmeralda said she last heard from her son on Thursday, March 13th before the flights to El Salvador on Saturday the 15th. He told her he was being sent to Venezuela but days went by and she couldn’t get through to him. She finally learned he was sent to the CECOT terrorism prison in El Salvador. Frantic, she called the government of Venezuela and she considered traveling to El Salvador to bring her boy home.
“I just want my son back. All we ask for is justice and respect for his human rights,” Esmeralda added.Please share Josue's story, it may save his life.
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