Key Takeaways
• Widmer Josneyder Agelviz-Sanguino, a 24-year-old Venezuelan, was deported from Texas to a high-security prison in El Salvador.
• The U.S. government cannot confirm Agelviz-Sanguino’s location, health, or detention status as of late May 2025.
• A Houston federal judge ordered the government to provide information and restore contact with Agelviz-Sanguino immediately.
A 24-year-old Venezuelan man, Widmer Josneyder Agelviz-Sanguino, is at the center of an urgent legal and immigration controversy after the United States government admitted it cannot find him. Agelviz-Sanguino was removed from Houston, Texas as part of a larger deportation effort in early 2025. He was believed to be transferred, not to Venezuela but to a high-security prison in El Salvador. As of late May 2025, there is no clear information about his location or condition. His family, attorneys, and immigrant rights advocates are raising concerns about his safety and the wider impact of these actions.
How Did This Happen?
Widmer Josneyder Agelviz-Sanguino’s journey began years earlier, when he left Venezuela for Ecuador, fleeing conditions there. Eventually, he entered the United States and was granted refugee status. His story changed dramatically when he arrived at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport. Customs and Border Protection officers noticed his tattoos—which included roses, an owl, and a clock—and said these marks might link him to the Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang. Agelviz-Sanguino firmly denied any connections to the gang.
Despite his denial, officials transferred him to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in late 2024. For a few months, his family and attorneys could talk with him while he was in U.S. detention. But in mid-March 2025, all communication suddenly stopped. This is when his story took a troubling turn.
The Decision to Deport—and Where To?
Instead of sending Agelviz-Sanguino back to Venezuela when deporting him, the U.S. government, as part of a larger effort, transported many Venezuelans—including Agelviz-Sanguino—from Texas to El Salvador. Reports identified CECOT, a high-security prison, as the likely destination.
In March 2025 alone, at least 137 Venezuelans faced this same fate. These mass deportations have stirred debate and stirred up legal challenges. Some claim the removals may have used emergency presidential powers under the Alien Enemies Act. The government’s focus on certain nationalities and the transfer to a prison, instead of simply sending people home, has raised tough questions about human rights and due process.
VisaVerge.com’s investigation reveals that CBS News and other outlets published lists showing the names of those possibly sent to El Salvador. Agelviz-Sanguino’s name was among them. However, no one—including his lawyers or relatives—has received direct proof from either the United States or El Salvador confirming that he is alive or in custody.
The Legal Response in Houston
The uncertainty quickly reached the courts. A federal judge in Houston ordered the U.S. government to explain what happened to Agelviz-Sanguino:
- Find where he is.
- Restore contact so his family and attorneys could speak with him.
- Share his current health and location.
- Explain why he continues to be detained or where he was sent.
At first, the Trump administration asked for more time to answer the judge’s questions. When the new deadline arrived on May 21, 2025, officials told the court they still could not provide any new information about Agelviz-Sanguino’s status.
Javier Rivera, one of Agelviz-Sanguino’s lawyers, said, “It is puzzling that the government would seek an extension on their first deadline only to file a declaration that states they have no information on Widmer.”
Concerns from Family and Advocates
The last time anyone from Agelviz-Sanguino’s family or legal team heard from him was before ICE moved him out of contact. Since then, they have received only silence. They do not know whether he is healthy, whether he remains in the hands of authorities in El Salvador, or if he is alive at all.
This uncertainty is deeply distressing for his loved ones, who fear the worst. None of the U.S. or Salvadoran authorities have given official word—despite clear requests and court orders.
A Broader Pattern of Mass Deportations
The situation involving Widmer Josneyder Agelviz-Sanguino is not an isolated event. In March 2025, the United States conducted large-scale removals of Venezuelan nationals from Texas, many of whom were sent not to their home country but to the Terrorism Confinement Center, known as CECOT, in El Salvador. The mass transfer of people to a foreign high-security prison was reported by several news outlets, who published names—including Agelviz-Sanguino’s—said to be onboard the planes to El Salvador.
Many advocacy groups argue that these actions could break basic legal rules known as due process, which are meant to protect people from being punished without a fair hearing. They have also warned that sending refugees to another country’s prison without clear reasons or rights to contact could put them at risk.
The legal fight continues over whether these deportations followed the law or crossed lines by using emergency rules meant for rare national security threats, not normal migration cases. Court battles are still going on, with judges demanding that officials explain what happened to Agelviz-Sanguino and others.
What Is CECOT?
CECOT is a large, newly built high-security prison in El Salvador. It is officially called the Terrorism Confinement Center. The government there built CECOT to hold suspected gang members and other detainees in secure, locked conditions. Some human rights organizations worry about the prison’s tough environment and about the rights of foreigners held there.
Sending someone like Agelviz-Sanguino, who sought protection in the United States, directly to CECOT is especially controversial. Some lawyers say this may break international rules about not sending refugees to places where they face harm.
Official Silence and Growing Pressure
Despite a federal judge’s clear orders, the U.S. government says it has no new information about Widmer Josneyder Agelviz-Sanguino’s location or condition. Family and supporters remain desperate for answers. Flights believed to contain deportees, including Agelviz-Sanguino, landed in El Salvador, but after that, the trail goes cold.
Both the American and Salvadoran governments have not made public statements confirming if he is at CECOT, the reason for his detention, or his health.
For now, all the evidence comes from flight records, news reports, and the lack of direct answers. Advocates worry this silence could hide mistakes or wrongdoing.
Legal and Human Rights Questions
- Is it legal to send refugees from the United States to a third country’s prison?
- Should asylum seekers who faced threats at home be sent to high-security jails abroad?
- Do people like Agelviz-Sanguino have the right to speak to family and attorneys wherever they are detained?
These questions are fueling legal action in Houston and catching the attention of human rights groups across the world. The lack of any update on Agelviz-Sanguino is also seen as an example of how fast-moving immigration changes can lead to situations where key rules break down.
Some people have raised concerns that this case shows U.S. policy moving away from the idea of giving everyone a fair chance to explain their case, especially as rules for certain groups change quickly.
What This Means for Others
Widmer Josneyder Agelviz-Sanguino’s case is worrying because it shows the risks of new deportation practices for Venezuelans and others. Similar mass removals could leave more people in danger, separated from their families without warning.
For those in immigration proceedings in the United States, especially in places like Houston, this case highlights why it is important to have legal help and strong communication with family. Sudden changes in policy, international transfers, and limited official updates can make these situations even more risky.
What Should Families and Attorneys Do?
While Agelviz-Sanguino’s case is now before the courts, others facing deportation or fearing for loved ones’ safety can take some steps:
- Stay in close contact with the person detained whenever possible.
- Keep detailed records of communications and updates.
- Contact trusted legal help, such as an immigration attorney.
- Reach out to advocacy groups who monitor detention and deportation cases.
- Check for official updates from government agencies like ICE and the Department of Homeland Security. The U.S. government’s ICE Detainee Locator can help find some detainees, though it may not be updated for international transfers.
What Are the Next Steps?
As of May 21, 2025, a federal judge in Houston continues to demand that officials find answers about Widmer Josneyder Agelviz-Sanguino. The court expects new explanations and updates on his case. His attorneys are pressing for contact, medical updates, and proof he is alive and treated lawfully.
Whether the government will change its decisions on these mass deportations is still unclear. Lawsuits and public pressure are likely to continue. The wider question about the U.S. using foreign prisons for deportees will be part of the debate over how to best protect the rights of people fleeing harm.
Conclusion: Why This Case Matters
The fact that the United States government cannot—or will not—say where Widmer Josneyder Agelviz-Sanguino is points to larger questions about accountability and transparency in immigration policy. For his family and those supporting him, every day without news only makes fears grow.
This case matters not just for one man, but for anyone wondering if justice and fairness still guide how countries treat those seeking protection. The story of Agelviz-Sanguino, Houston, and the pattern of deportation shows why careful oversight and strong legal rights remain important as immigration rules continue to change in the United States and beyond.
As the legal process continues, families, attorneys, and advocates await answers, hoping that Agelviz-Sanguino’s case will not be forgotten, and that the system will provide the safety and fair treatment that it promises to all who need protection.
Learn Today
Deportation → The official removal of a foreign national from a country to their home or another country.
Refugee Status → Legal protection granted to someone fleeing danger in their home country to live safely elsewhere.
ICE → Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. agency responsible for immigration detention and removal enforcement.
CECOT → Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador, a high-security prison holding suspected gang members and detainees.
Alien Enemies Act → U.S. law allowing emergency powers for national security-related detentions or removals.
This Article in a Nutshell
Widmer Josneyder Agelviz-Sanguino was deported from Houston to El Salvador’s CECOT prison in early 2025. His location remains unknown, sparking legal battles and human rights concerns over U.S. deportation methods and refugee protections amid mass removals of Venezuelan migrants.
— By VisaVerge.com
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