A lawyer representing a Venezuelan immigrant deported to a notorious prison in El Salvador has accused the Trump administration of engaging in a disturbing psychological campaign against asylum seekers. The lawyer, Lindsay Toczylowski from the Immigrant Defenders Law Center in California, described the situation as the most shocking event she has witnessed in her 15 years of legal practice.
The Venezuelan man, one of over 200 citizens sent to El Salvador as part of Trump's controversial immigration policies, was featured in a video by El Salvador's president, Nayib Bukele, showing detainees being mistreated. The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, labeled the deportees as dangerous criminals linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, claiming their removal was necessary to protect Americans.
However, Toczylowski refuted these allegations, stating her client is an LGBTQ+ artist who fled Venezuela due to political persecution. He had crossed into the U.S. from Tijuana and passed an asylum interview. Those who knew him described him as a kind individual with no criminal background, wrongly identified as a gang member due to non-gang-related tattoos.
Toczylowski expressed deep concern over the situation, fearing for her client's safety and the precedent it sets. Families of other deported Venezuelans have also begun to challenge the narrative, insisting their relatives are not criminals.
The lawyer believes the deportations are part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to deter asylum seekers and undermine their rights. She argued that these actions are intended to discourage people from seeking refuge in the U.S., viewing due process as an obstacle to their political objectives. Unfortunately, she noted, individuals like her client are caught in the crossfire of these policies.