New York City, June 2, 2025 – It was a quiet, poignant moment at the foot of a symbol of hope: More than fifty people gathered yesterday on the steps of the Statue of Liberty, not to celebrate, but to remember. They read out names – 238 in total. Names of men who once sought protection in the United States and have now vanished into one of the world’s most notorious prisons: the CECOT megacomplex in El Salvador. The protest was directed at the government of President Donald Trump and, in particular, at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, which has played a key role in implementing the recent mass deportations. The event was organized in cooperation with the Immigrant Defense Law Center (immdef), which has been pointing to the unlawful deportation of the 238 Venezuelan men for weeks.
"Our country was once a place that promised protection. Today, it disappears people," said a spokesperson for the Center. The group publicly called for the immediate return of the deported men to the United States so that they can exercise their right to due process.
Deliberate Violation of the Law
The 238 men in question were flown on March 15, 2025, on a charter flight operated by GlobalX Airlines to the Salvadoran capital San Salvador – despite pending asylum applications, partially valid work permits, and existing court orders. An internal directive issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) had previously stated that certain groups of migrants could be deported without judicial hearings under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 – a move deemed by constitutional scholars as legally dubious to outright unconstitutional. What followed was a transfer to the CECOT prison, officially known as "Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo." The facility, built under El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, is infamous for its brutality: human rights organizations regularly document abuse, solitary confinement without outside contact, and medical neglect. According to lawyers and whistleblowers, the Venezuelan men had no opportunity to contact family members or legal representatives. For many, a silence has begun that instills fear.
International Criticism Is Mounting
The action at the Statue of Liberty is part of a growing wave of protests in the US and around the world. The ACLU now speaks of a "state-organized human rights violation," while Amnesty International demands an immediate stop to deportations to countries where torture or abuse is likely – including El Salvador. Representatives of the United Nations have also expressed concern, including Felipe González Morales, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants. The case has gained further gravity due to the fact that, according to lawyers, many of the deported individuals had never faced criminal proceedings and were classified as "not previously convicted." Many had lived, worked, or studied in the US for years. Some were reportedly involved in reconstruction efforts after natural disasters.
"A Violation of the American Promise"
The case has become a moral and political test – not just for the courts, but for the very self-image of a country that once inscribed "Give me your tired, your poor" at its gates. "This is not just about the law – it’s about the heart of our democracy," said constitutional scholar Dean Martinez yesterday. The demonstrators at the Statue of Liberty have sent a clear message: They demand names instead of numbers, justice instead of silence. And they remind America that freedom does not begin at the water’s edge – but in the will to defend it.
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