ABC News reported on Thursday that an immigration attorney representing a migrant sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador by the Trump administration told a court on Wednesday that her client had no gang affiliations, prior criminal record, and was legally seeking asylum in the United States.
“Linette Tobin is representing Jerce Reyes Barrios, a professional soccer player from Venezuela who protested the Maduro regime in February and March 2024 and was detained and tortured after one of the demonstrations,” wrote ABC’s Armando Garcia, who added:
Barrios came to the U.S.-Mexico border legally through the CBP One app in September 2024 but has been accused of being a Tren de Aragua, or TdA, member and was detained at a facility under maximum security, Tobin said.
Barrios was reportedly being held in U.S. custody after applying for asylum and had a court hearing scheduled for April 17th. The ABC report adds that Tobin said her client was accused of being a Tren de Aragua gang member because of his tattoos, which she claims actually related to his time on the soccer field.
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