The two -year -old Venezuelan girl, separated from her deported parents by the US authorities, returned to Caracas on board the deportation flight on Wednesday (May 14), which led rare praise from the Venezuelan government for US President Donald Trump.
“Welcome, Maikelys,” said Venezuela’s first lady Cilia Flores and crashing a toddler at the airport. The child, Maikelys Antonell Espinoza Bernal, was one of the 226 Venezuelan migrants repatrered on the same flight, AFP reported.
Outrage
The Maikelys Department from his parents caused a stir from his parents, where several protests were held in Caracas, condemning what activists described as their “kidnapping” by US authorities.
Unification of Mother-Dages in the Presidential Palace
Although Maikelys’s mother, twenty -year -old Yoreles Bernal, was not at the airport, the family later met in the presidential palace, where President Nicolas Maduro personally thanked Trump.
“There were and there will be differences in Trump’s administration,” Maduro said, “but the return of this toddler is a deeply humane act of justice.”
Alleged bonds of gangs quoted by us
The US Department of Internal Security (DHS) said that the child was placed in foster care for security concerns and claims that her parents were members of the Venezuelan notorious Gang Tren de Aragua.
According to DHS, Maikelys’ father Maiker Espinoza-Escalon was a “lieutenant” gang involved in serious crimes, including “murders, drug sales, kidnapping, blackmail, sex trading and torture.” Her mother was accused of recruiting young women for smuggling and prostitution.
The mother denies the involvement of gangs
Bernal, however, denied any unlawful conduct. She said that she and her husband were detained after voluntarily giving up the US authorities in May 2024, and were profiled for their tattoos – the feature often used by the coercive authorities of the interconnection of migrants with gang activities.
Transfers to Cecot prison
Venezuela confirmed that Maikelys’ father was sent to the prison to Salvador Cecot, infamous for his harsh treatment of prisoners of gangs among several Venezuelan deported. Transfer, sanctioned Trump, aroused convictions.
Although Washington insists that they only confirmed that the members of the Tren de Aragua were transferred, the legal groups claim that the US has provided “modest evidence” to justify this step.
Since February, more than 4,000 Venezuelans have been deported, whether from the US or Mexico, where they gathered in the hope of crossing the US.
“Deep grazing” patterns
Human rights groups argue that the manipulation of Maikelys’ case reflects the “deeply disturbing” trend of the department of migrating families and deportation of individuals without clear evidence or proper process.
Given that Trump’s administration continues to enforce hard immigration policy, cases such as Maikelys are expected to remain in the hot debate of border enforcement, human rights and responsibility.
(Tagstotranslate) Maikelys Antonella Espinoza Bernal (T) US Deportation Flight
