1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

The disturbing case of Merwil Gutiérrez being deported to El Salvador, a country he has no ties to, is a clear violation of due process rights afforded to immigrants as outlined by the Supreme Court. This cruel act of forcibly sending a Venezuelan teenager to a notorious foreign prison appears to be a blatant form of human trafficking. Such actions are antithetical to basic human rights and the values that many claim to uphold. Rather than engaging in these unconscionable practices, we must demand adherence to legal procedures and humane treatment for all individuals, regardless of immigration status. Gutiérrez had no criminal record and was reportedly not even the intended target, yet he was unjustly apprehended and deported. This injustice cannot stand. We call for his immediate return to the United States and a transparent investigation into how such a grievous breach of his rights occurred under the government's watch.