Ángel de Jesús González Fuenmayor (19) left the Zulia state of Venezuela for the USA on April 20,2024 after finishing school. He arrived in Mexico in the middle of May, according to his grandmother, Jackelin Orozco, who lives in Venezuela.
Angel’s cousin, Idaulimar Fernández, told Venezuelan media outlet, Radio Fe y Alegría Noticias, that Ángel had migrated in search of a better future for his family. After a long journey through the Darien Jungle, he remained in a shelter in Mexico for several months until he obtained his appointment through the CBP-One application to apply for asylum in the US.On Sept 19, he presented himself at the border with an asylum claim.
At Angel’s interview, US authorities ask if he had tattoos, and he said yes. "He entered US territory through the San Ysidro border but was immediately detained because of his tattoo. They forced him to sign a deportation order without giving him a chance to defend himself," his cousin reported.
According to LLANERO DIGITAL, Angel has no criminal record but was detained after immigration agents noticed a tattoo of the video game, Call of Duty, on his arm. He told family that US authorities detained him to investigate what they told him were links to the notorious gang, Tren de Aragua. “He was in detention for 6 months. He was scared,” said his grandmother. He signed a deportation order because he wanted out of detention. He wanted to go back to Mexico or Venezuela."
He told his grandmother, “Don’t worry I will be there soon.”
The young man's mother, who lives in the United States, managed to communicate with Ángel through three video calls supervised by authorities. After March 15th, the family lost contact with him for three days. It was his mother who, desperate, recognized him in a video of Venezuelans being brought to El Salvador that was broadcast by the press.
“When he didn’t come to Venezuela, I called him, and called him, and he didn’t answer. Then it was a great shock when we saw the videos of the men taken to El Salvador. His mother told me, and I saw my love in the video in CECOT prison in El Salvador.
"He has no connection to the gang, Tren de Aragua. I am so anxious about his safety, and I just ask for him to be returned to his homeland,” said Jackelin, near tears.
"I ask for the freedom of my grandson and all those innocent boys who are there. Like me, all the other mothers must be grieving and anxious for their families to return home," she added.
"My cousin is not a criminal; he is a young worker seeking a better life. He was sentenced without trial just for having a tattoo," said Idaulimar, who called on the Venezuelan authorities and international organizations to secure Angel’s release.
(info from LLANERO DIGITAL and Radio Fe y Alegría Noticias)
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