Supporters gather on the steps of Seattle's federal courthouse in the rain, holding signs demanding "FREE JOSE FROM GUANTANAMO/¡LIBEREN A GUANTANAMO!" alongside Venezuelan flags. Photo: ILPS.
Family members of José Medina Andrade, a 29-year-old Venezuelan migrant and father of two, learned of his transfer to Guantanamo Bay through an article in the New York Times, revealing the latest chapter in what supporters describe as a pattern of family separation and human rights abuses in the US immigration system.
At a press conference held Sunday, February 16, outside the courthouse building in downtown Seattle, José’s wife and sister joined community organizers to demand his immediate release. They contested his designation as a “high-threat” migrant, describing him instead as a family man who fled Venezuela and had become an active member of Washington’s migrant community.
According to US official sources 53 Venezuelan migrants labeled as “high-threat” and belonging to the Tren de Aragua criminal gang, were transferred last week to the US military base in Guantanamo, a territory illegally occupied by the United States in Cuba and infamous for human right abuses under the US “fight on terror.”
Many analysts fear that among this group of Venezuelans many others might also be victims of a US administration that is criminalizing migration while reinforcing the narrative of their connections to criminal gangs like the Tren de Aragua.
“José was running from the very gang they are accusing him of being in,” his family stated, referring to recent Trump administration policies targeting Venezuelan migrants. These policies include designating the Tren de Aragua gang as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and implementing the Laken Riley Act to justify the transfer of more than 50 Venezuelan migrants to Guantanamo Bay.
Relatives of Venezuelan Migrants Sent to Guantanamo Sue Trump
José Medina Andrade’s journey through the US immigration system reveals a complex web of legal hurdles, deliberate family separation, communication blackouts, and arbitrary transfers between detention facilities that leave families searching for their loved ones. Upon initially seeking asylum with his family, they were immediately separated and detained. During this period, despite language barriers and his inability to read or write, Medina Andrade was reportedly disqualified from asylum status. After six months in detention, he was deported to Venezuela.
Facing what his family describes as life-threatening circumstances in Venezuela, including threats from local criminal groups over unpaid debts, Medina Andrade made the decision to return to the United States. This second entry was classified as a criminal offense, resulting in a nine-month detention period during which he reportedly faced significant human rights abuses by ICE, including being denied access to food, assaulted by ICE officers, and subjected to solitary confinement.
“Is it a crime to migrate and want to give our children a better life?” asked family members at the press conference, highlighting the humanitarian aspects of their situation. They described being kept in the dark about José’s whereabouts, often relying on information from other detainees to track his transfers between facilities.
The case has drawn attention to Washington state’s status as a proclaimed sanctuary for asylum seekers. “Washington is supposed to be an asylum state,” noted supporters, pointing to the contradiction between local policies and federal immigration enforcement actions.
Community organizers at the press conference emphasized that both the Biden and Trump administrations “have been ruthlessly attacking migrants,” revealing a continuity in aggressive immigration enforcement policies across administrations. On January 29, 2025, the Trump administration signed an executive order to allow the deportation of migrants to the notorious Guantanamo Bay prison.
Local community organizations including the International Migrants Alliance – WA and the International League of Peoples’ Struggle – Seattle/Tacoma have launched a campaign for his release. They are calling for community members to sign a petition, join campaign efforts, and support the family’s immediate needs.
“Jose’s family is pursuing legal options,” stated organizers, who are also advocating for broader demands including the closure of Guantanamo Bay and the release of all migrants in ICE detention. The family’s immediate focus remains on maintaining contact with Medina Andrade and securing his release from a facility that has become symbolic of draconian US detention practices plagued with human right abuses.
Community members emphasized that Medina Andrade had been active in local migrant rights activities, including participating in protests and community events prior to his detention. His supporters argue that his case exemplifies the broader criminalization of Venezuelan migrants in the United States, as the government is now labelling all Venezuelan migrants as criminals involved in gangs. It is noteworthy that, despite US claims, the Venezuelan government revealed last week that none of the Venezuelans who were recently deported had affiliations with the the criminal gang Tren de Aragua.
The press conference concluded with three primary demands from organizers and family members: “Shut down Guantanamo Bay, Release all migrants in ICE detention, and free José!”
For those interested in supporting José’s case, the family has established a petition with additional resources available for community support.
Special for Orinoco Tribune by Dalal Zainabi
OT/DZ/JRE
Dalal al-Zainabi
Dalal is a contributor and volunteer for Orinoco Tribune.
