Venezuelan Barber Sues U.S. After Deportation to El Salvador's Notorious Prison

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A 28-year-old Venezuelan barber named Neiyerver Adrián Leon Rengel has filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. government, alleging he was unlawfully detained, falsely labeled as a gang member, and deported to a notorious prison in El Salvador despite a court order meant to stop the flight.

Why it matters

This case highlights concerns over the use of expedited deportation procedures that bypass standard legal processes, as well as the treatment of immigrants and the conditions of detention facilities in other countries.

The details

According to the lawsuit, on March 13, 2025, Rengel was headed to work in Irving, Texas when ICE officers detained him, despite him having an active immigration court date set for 2028. The officers allegedly pointed to his tattoos and declared him a member of the Tran de Aragua gang, which Rengel immediately denied. The lawsuit claims top officials at the Department of Justice and White House orchestrated a 'mad scramble' to deport Rengel before a judge could intervene, using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. Despite a restraining order issued on March 15, 2025, Rengel says he was put on a flight to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) prison, where he was allegedly beaten, denied medical care, and held in inhumane conditions for four months before being released in a prisoner swap.

• On March 13, 2025, Rengel was detained by ICE officers in Irving, Texas.
• On March 15, 2025, a judge issued a restraining order to halt the deportation flights.
• Rengel was held in the CECOT prison in El Salvador for four months before being released in July 2025.

What’s next

The U.S. government has not yet filed a formal response to the allegations in court.