A U.S. immigration lawyer, Sofia Ramirez, said Salvadoran authorities have denied her access to several Venezuelan migrants detained in El Salvador after being deported from the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay.

Ramirez represents a group of Venezuelans challenging their deportations, arguing that they were unlawfully removed without due process.

She reported that despite repeated requests, Salvadoran officials have refused to allow meetings with her clients, hindering their ability to seek legal redress.

The deportations are under scrutiny because a U.S. court order had barred rapid expulsions that did not allow migrants to raise claims of danger or potential torture.

Ramirez stated that the migrants were detained in poor conditions and some faced threats from criminal gangs operating in El Salvador.

The Biden administration, now facing mounting legal and political pressure, has not yet commented on the lawyer’s access issues.

The case is part of broader criticism against the use of military resources for deportations and concerns over migrants’ human rights protections.

Source: Reuters