On March 17, U.S. immigration authorities detained Alberto, a father from Venezuela, and separated him from his wife and two children. Even though the family has pending asylum applications, he was charged with “illegal” entry—more than two years after they arrived at the southern U.S. border.
A federal judge ordered his release from jail on March 20. However, on March 27, immigration authorities detained him again when he followed instructions to report to their office.
We urge the Trump administration to release Alberto immediately and end the cruel practice of family separation.
Here’s what you can do:
Write to the Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement urging the authorities to:
- Immediately release Alberto and reunite him with his family.
- End family separation, family detention, mass detention, and deportations that harm people seeking safety.
Write to:
Todd Lyons
Acting Director Immigration and Customs Enforcement
500 12th St SW
Washington, DC 20536, USA
Email: Todd.M.Lyons@ice.dhs.gov
Salutation: Dear Mr. Lyons
And copy:
Mrs. Marybeth Krumm Turner
Minister-Counsellor & Chargé d’affaires, a.i.
Embassy of the United States of America
490 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, ON K1N 1G8
Tel: (613) 238-5335 / 688-5335 (24h) Fax: (613) 688-3082
Fleeing Venezuela for safety
Alberto, his wife, and their two children, ages 17 and 5, fled Venezuela to escape danger and build a new life in the United States. The country’s ongoing crisis made it impossible for them to stay, and they sought safety in the U.S. They arrived in Texas in 2022 and applied for asylum, which is still being processed. Like many others in their situation, they hoped to find protection and stability while following legal procedures.
Unjust detention and family separation
On March 17, 2025, U.S. immigration authorities arrested Alberto on his way to work. Although he was released on March 20 while awaiting a court hearing in Texas, he was detained again on March 27 after following instructions to report to an immigration office. He is now being held at the Farmville Detention Center in Virginia, far from his family. This pattern of targeting individuals with pending asylum claims undermines basic fairness and creates deep uncertainty for those seeking protection.
The Trump administration has revived 8 U.S.C. 1325, a legal provision previously used to justify mass family separations. It is now being applied to people who have lived in the U.S. for years, including parents of young children, individuals granted relief from deportation, and those who have followed all immigration requirements. Judges in Texas have issued multiple warrants targeting long-term residents, creating fear and instability for many families. The enforcement of this law has caused widespread suffering, further eroding trust in the immigration system.
The right to seek asylum and family unity
Under international law, everyone has the right to seek asylum and must not be sent back to a place where they face danger, a principle known as non-refoulement. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has urged countries not to deport Venezuelans due to the country’s severe human rights crisis. Amnesty International has also called for an absolute ban on deportations to Venezuela, emphasizing the risks that returnees face.
Separating families is a violation of human rights and causes lasting trauma, especially for children. Amnesty International has determined that immigration policies tearing families apart can amount to torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. Research shows that forced separations inflict deep psychological harm, making it even harder for families to rebuild their lives. The ongoing use of these policies contradicts fundamental principles of human dignity and protection.
Please take action as soon as possible until June 27, 2025. The UA will be duly updated should there be the need for further action.
