Venezuelan Detainees in Texas Form SOS Signal Amid Deportation Threats

Thirty-one Venezuelan migrants detained at the Bluebonnet Detention Facility in Anson, Texas, formed an 'SOS' signal with their bodies in the facility's yard to protest their impending deportation and draw attention to their plight. The detainees had been accused by immigration officials of being members of the Tren de Aragua gang, allegations they and their families deny, and were being processed for deportation under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. On April 18, some detainees were transported toward a nearby airport for deportation, but the Supreme Court intervened and temporarily blocked their removal, resulting in their return to the facility. The migrants still face possible deportation to the CECOT mega-prison in El Salvador if the court lifts its block, raising concerns from advocates about potential violence or persecution upon their return. The Bluebonnet facility is privately run for ICE and has held hundreds of detainees, some of whom are classified as high-risk and wear red jumpsuits. Immigration advocates and families have called for a halt to the deportations and proper legal review, citing lack of evidence and the risk to the individuals involved.