Franco Jose Caraballo Tiapa
Arrival in the US
In November, 2023 Franco Jose Caraballo Tiapa crossed the US border with his wife, Ivannoa Sanchez, seeking asylum after rallying in support of political leaders opposed to President Nicolas Maduro. They were detained briefly, passed their credible fear interviews, and ICE released them, ordering them to check in routinely with the federal agency. The couple has since attended all their immigration appointments, including on February 3, 2025 when Franco was not allowed to return home with his wife despite being scheduled in March for their first court appearance on their asylum claim. Her husband was initially transferred to a detention center in Laredo, TX where Ivannoa was able to speak with him regularly. In mid-March he told her he believed he was going to be transferred, and possibly deported. She has not spoken to him since. Arrest and deportation
Tattoos flagged him as a member of Tren de Aragua
Franco, like many men of his generation, has a variety of tattoos. There is one of a rose, a lion, and a razor blade that represents his work as a barber. He has two tattoos to pay tribute to his eldest daughter, Shalome: a pocket watch which features the time of her birth and black lettering on his chest that spells out the four year old’s name. These tattoos have formed the basis as the administration’s proof that he is a member of Tren de Aragua. According to The Guardian, an official DHS document issued in early February states, “The subject has been identified as a member of Tren de Aragua” but does not explain how the agents reached that conclusion. The same document also notes, “Deportable/excludable alien has several tattoos and no known criminal history at this time.”
What can you do?
Continue to put pressure on your representatives to demand the release of Leonel 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.
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