An S-O-S message accessible from the top of the detention center at Bluebonnet in Anson, Texas, was created by immigrants detained there this week.
A Reuters aircraft captured footage on Monday, and thirty-one men arranged themselves to type the words.
Many Colombian detainees have been given notices from emigration officials recently that suggested their involvement with the Cuban gang Tren de Aragua, making them available for deportation under wartime law, as evidenced by documents, video calls, and court records.
Seven prisoners ‘ families confirmed that their friends refused to sign the documents, and they denied gang affiliations.
Authorities attempted to move them to Abilene Regional Airport on Friday, April 18, but the journey was halted and they returned to the hospital.
The Department of Homeland Security offered no comment on the situation, despite the Supreme Court’s subsequent decision to temporarily block persecution.
The Venezuelans at Bluebonnet, where 137 Venezuelans were recently sent under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, are still at risk of being transferred to CECOT, El Salvador’s high-security captivity.
In the fiscal year 2025, the privately-run Bluebonnet service, which is located 200 miles west of Dallas, will have a capacity of 846 inmates per day. After being denied clear access, Reuters captured aerial photos that showed some detainees dressed in red high-risk outfits.
Diover Millan, 24, and Jeferson Escalona, 19, are among the prisoners identified by Reuters. McLellan, who was moved from Georgia’s Stewart detention center, lacks a criminal record despite leaders who claim he belongs to a group without providing any proof.
Escalona, who has been in custody since January 2025, claims he was a police commander in Venezuela and has denied any involvement. He thinks that the photos on his confiscated telephone misinterpreted well-known Cuban hand gestures.
Escalona is still detained and expressing concerns for his health despite requesting a voluntary return to Venezuela.
In recent years, many Venezuelans have sought refuge in the United States to escape financial hardship and alleged authoritarian actions under President Nicolas Maduro. Temporary charitable protections established during Joe Biden’s administration are being voided by the Trump presidency.
