Yolfran Alejandro Escobar Falcón (25) is from Chirgua, Venezuela, in the Carabobo state. He is not a criminal, according to his family. "He didn't wear earrings, baggy clothes, or flashy hairstyles. He was responsible, down-to-earth, and dressed simply," his mother, Maria Falcon said. "Very mature, very responsible. He's always worked hard," she added.
Yolfran migrated first to Colombia where he and his partner lived for six years, until the couple decided to travel, with their young daughter, to the US. Yolfran was initially detained after turning himself in at the U.S.-Mexico border in December 2023 but then released. He applied for asylum and found work at a laundromat but was arrested by ICE soon after, when leaving his job.
His family says he has no criminal record in either Venezuela or the United States, but a judge informed him he had been flagged as a suspected member of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA). His family says they think his tattoos were the likely reason for his identification as a member of TdA. Among these tattoos was one featuring his daughter's name and another commemorating the date he and his partner met, represented by a ship's wheel.
Yolfran's partner remains in the United States with their young daughter, who was born in Colombia.
On March 14, 2025, María said she had her last conversation with her son. Yolfran called to tell her he and others were being processed for deportation. "He said we might see each other soon in Venezuela," she recounted.
The next day, he called his partner and told her they were returning their belongings.
"He told her to take care of their daughter," María said. Concerned, she contacted Yolfran's father in Venezuela and asked him to check the Caracas airport, but officials denied any scheduled deportation flights.
After that call, all communication ceased.
A few days later, María was devastated to find Yolfran's name on a list of deported individuals. She recognized him in a CBS News photo, handcuffed and wearing a gray jumpsuit as he was transferred to El Salvador. "It's been very hard. I was in shock for two months," she said.
When asked what she would say to Trump or Bukele, María responded with a direct message to the two leaders. "I'm not God to judge, but I hope they take a moment to investigate who my son is. As I've said and shown in interviews, he has no criminal record. I hope they realize the pain they're causing this family. I want him to have a chance to leave that terrifying place."
Maria was able to see images of her son in CECOT prison in May when Matt Gaetz published a tour of the prison on One America Network. She recognized her son, 25-year-old Yolfran Escobar, hugging the bars of his cell. “Since I saw it, I haven’t stopped crying and thinking what can I do to help my son?” she said. “It is a pain so great it feels like they are tearing out my soul.”
When asked what she would say to Trump or Bukele, María responded with a direct message to the two leaders. "I'm not God to judge, but I hope they take a moment to investigate who my son is. As I've said and shown in interviews, he has no criminal record. I hope they realize the pain they're causing this family. I want him to have a chance to leave that terrifying place."
"I hope this helps reveal the truth and brings me back to my son as soon as possible," Maria said.
The-disappeared.com
References:
https://www.instagram.com/abogadalorenamex/reel/DHUiq_is64-/
https://www.instagram.com/abogadalorenamex/p/DHUb1QtM_qu/
https://www.instagram.com/manuelalemanjcv/reel/DHW5H6Ih3zn/
https://www.tiktok.com/@alejandroscobar31/video/7483671680519327031
https://www.threads.com/@este.bot.te.informa/post/DIH2RdSsu_Q/media
https://www.newsweek.com/olfran-alejandro-escobar-falcon-daughter-tattoo-el-salvador-2073316