In Maracaibo, Venezuela, Jhoan Bastidas shares his recent experiences after being deported from the United States. Bastidas spent 16 days at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, during his deportation process, where he recalls being under constant surveillance and receiving scant meals that left him hungry.
He describes the conditions as isolating, providing only a small room of 7 feet by 13 feet with nothing to occupy his time. Sitting in the living room of his father’s middle-class home, Bastidas reflects on being back in the city he once left as a teenager. Now, tattoos on his chest have branded him with a criminal reputation, and he is part of a limited group of migrants who have passed through the naval base.
In recent weeks, roughly 350 Venezuelans like Bastidas have been deported back to their homeland, which has been plagued by economic and political turmoil for years. These migrants were initially held at Guantanamo Bay before being flown to Honduras and then returned to Venezuela. This is part of the Trump administration’s extensive crackdown on illegal immigration in the U.S. Authorities have alleged that some deportees are members of the Tren de Aragua gang but offered little proof to support these assertions.
Bastidas shares how challenging the experience was, citing the widespread animosity he encountered. Despite this, he emphasizes the importance of resilience in dealing with these hardships. The past years have seen more than 7.7 million Venezuelans leaving their country since its oil-rich economy began to collapse under President Nicolás Maduro. Initially relocating to Latin America and the Caribbean, many have now turned their sights on the U.S. Seeking relief from a worsening crisis.
For years, Venezuela refused to accept deported citizens back, with limited exceptions. A recent transfer saw numerous immigrants moved to a secure prison in El Salvador following an executive order by Trump under an old wartime law, despite limited evidence of gang affiliation. A federal judge intervened to temporarily halt these deportations, citing the controversial nature of using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.
In 2018, Bastidas, alongside his mother and siblings, left Maracaibo during one of Venezuela’s most severe crises. The family first struggled in Peru before settling in Colombia amidst widespread joblessness and food shortages in their home country. Conditions drove many from their homes, with frequent power outages prompting further migration.
Bastidas, encouraged by a brother’s promise of work, embarked on a journey to Texas in late 2023. He surrendered to U.S. authorities upon reaching the border and was detained until early February. Without explanation, he was later moved, discovering his destination only upon arrival at Guantanamo Bay.
While detained, Bastidas adjusted to a life of uncertainty and limited sunlight, only leaving his cell shacked and without a clear sense of time. He found some solace with a Bible and joined fellow detainees in communal prayer. They believed divine intervention was their only potential escape, given their isolation and lack of support.
Guantanamo held no meaning for Bastidas before this ordeal, but now it signifies the unintended consequences of mistaken identity linked to his tattoos. He firmly denies any gang affiliations despite the allegations made by U.S. authorities. The American Civil Liberties Union has raised concerns over the treatment of detainees, citing harsh conditions and mental health struggles among those held.
Returning to Venezuela, Bastidas received an escort from intelligence agents and spent two weeks recuperating. Now, he works at a hot dog stand in a Maracaibo transformed by economic challenges. While the city’s landscape has changed with abandoned establishments, news of the deportations and Guantanamo details circulate widely, sparking dialogue about migration and ongoing crises.
Bastidas finds solace in his faith, interpreting his experiences as a test. Despite setbacks, he views his journey as a meant-to-be path, trusting that a greater purpose beckons beyond his thwarted plans in the U.S.
