María Quevedo and her son, Eddie Adolfo Hurtado Quevedo (24) left their troubled homeland of Venezuela when Eddie was 17. They lived in Peru for more than 5 years where they both worked and saved.
An employer from Peru named Grady Ducos spoke out in defense of Eddie “For a long time, almost five years, Eddie Hurtado worked in my house, doing painting, installation, and electrical work. His mother even worked with me for almost six years, taking care of my two children. Eddie always came to my house and never acted in any criminal way. He was always well-liked by all his neighbors. I have plenty of proof, I have photos, that he was very well-liked by everyone. He did many jobs, not only at home, but also for many neighbors. A very hard-working, very responsible young man.”
In 2024 Maria and Eddie decided to travel to the US for more opportunities. Mother and son both had CBP-One appointments scheduled for August 27, 2024. They entered the interview together, but Eddie was detained from that moment on and remained in immigration custody for months without having formally entered the United States.
María assumes that her son was detained solely for having tattoos, despite having no criminal record in any of the countries where he had lived: Venezuela, Peru or the United States. He had never faced charges or had any contact with the judicial system. “He has never had any legal problems,” Maria emphasised.
During his detention, Eddie was diagnosed with a psychological condition by professionals within the US immigration system itself. He suffered episodes of panic and anxiety and was completely isolated in one of the detention centers. His mother has medical evidence of the diagnosis, as well as evidence of communications with her immigration attorney, whom she informed that her son had been transferred from the center without prior notice.
Maria's last direct contact with Eddie was on March 14, when he told her that he had been transferred to a center in Laredo, Texas. Then a family member recognized him in the El Salvador CECOT video and María was informed by her son's attorney that he was on the list of those deported to El Salvador.
"My son is not a criminal. My son is a good, clean boy. He has a mental health problem, and he was diagnosed while detained here by a psychologist from the same government," said Maria. She worries he is suffering in a prison where healthcare is not available, conditions are crowded and unclean, and prisoners are treated roughly.
(info from FOX 26 Houston and instagram.com/mariatiquepu/reel/DHrlePHhPdG/)
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