Deibin Iradan Gualtero Quiroz, 39, is originally from the state of Yaracuy, Venezuela. He left home with the intention of improving the lives of his five children. According to his mother, he worked as a furniture maker, a trade he also practiced in Colombia during his journey to the United States.
He also made a stop in Mexico, where he earned extra income before being able to enter the United States.
In December 2024, Deibin surrendered to U.S. immigration authorities while awaiting legal status. However, he was detained and transferred to several facilities, including the Houston Processing Center and the Joe Corley Detention Facility. Despite the difficulties, he maintained contact with his family, to whom he described his uncertainty about what awaited him.
Even inside the detention facility, Deibin displayed his hardworking spirit. According to his mother, he did cleaning work for a dollar a day. "He always wanted to be useful, even in the worst of circumstances," Judith emphasized.
In February 2025 Deibin was moved to the El Paso County Detention Center in Texas. However, on March 15, it was later confirmed that he had been sent to CECOT prison in El Salvador, which is on international human rights watch group lists for torture and lack of basic human rights. Judith claims her son was unjustly arrested because of his tattoos; she strongly denies that he has any criminal history or ties to gangs.
“The last call we received from him was on March 3rd... We found out he was in El Salvador when a list appeared on social media and my son's name was on it," she stated.
Deibin's journey reveals the harsh realities faced by migrants in their pursuit of the "American Dream." Judith details how her son endured hardships such as sleeping on the streets and working temporary jobs on his way to the United States. "He was lured by deceptive promises," she commented with obvious regret.
The Gualtero family faces weeks of anguish without clear answers about Deibin's fate. Judith urgently calls on national and international authorities to intervene in her son's case. "We are not perfect, but our children are not criminals. All migrants deserve justice," she said through tears.
"We want our children home. They're not criminals, they're just looking for a better future." Her message stands as a call for justice and humanity in the face of the difficult circumstances faced by migrants separated from their families.
(info from La Iguana and VTV Venezuela)