In a desperate act of protest, 31 detained migrants in Texas formed a giant "SOS" in a detention center yard, pleading for help as fears of wrongful deportation to El Salvador and Venezuela mount.
Earlier this month, dozens of Venezuelan men held at the privately run Bluebonnet detention center in Anson, Texas, were abruptly issued deportation notices, as reported by Reuters.
Immigration officials accused them—without public evidence—of belonging to Tren de Aragua, a violent Venezuelan gang. Many of the men denied the allegations and refused to sign the notices, according to families and the ACLU.
On April 18, a group of detainees was taken by bus to Abilene Regional Airport, suggesting imminent removal from the U.S., but the trip was mysteriously reversed. Detainees were returned to Bluebonnet without explanation.
Ten days later, on April 28, a group of 31 migrants spelled out "SOS" in the dirt yard of the facility, hoping to draw attention from passing planes—one of which was commissioned by Reuters after ICE barred reporters from accessing the site.
Images captured from the sky revealed detainees in red jumpsuits, indicating they were classified as high-risk. Immigration advocates warn that many of these individuals may face violence or persecution if deported and have called on ICE to halt removals pending proper legal review.
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