Julio Rafael Fernandez Sanchez

Julio Rafael Fernandez Sanchez is a Venezuelan national who obtained his immigration appointment through the CBP One app. On July 18, he, his wife and son attended that appointment and was detained, he was informed, because of his tattoos even though he presented documentation of a clean criminal record. He was taken directly to a detention center in Texas. His wife and son were released. He was given an immigration court date of April 8, after which he was sure he would be released.

Disappeared and discovered in CECOT prison in El Salvador

The last time Julio’s wife heard from him was on March 7 when he told her he would soon be deported to Venezuela. By March 15, his name disappeared from the US online tracker system of detainees and his wife grew frantic about his whereabouts. Finally on March 20 his name appeared on a list of detainees sent to CECOT, an El Salvadoran prison known for its human rights abuses.

What can you do?

• Continue to put pressure on your representatives to demand the release of Sanchez and other deportees who received no due process afforded to them by the US Constitution before deportation to El Salvador: Click here to find your State Representative; Click here to find your Senator.

• Check back here for updates as available