Deported Venezuelan Migrant Files $1.3M Claim Over Detention and Abuse in El Salvador Prison

One man’s fight over wrongful removal strikes at the heart of a controversial migration crackdown

A 27‑year‑old Venezuelan migrant, Neiyerver Adrián Leon Rengel, has filed a formal administrative claim seeking $1.3 million in damages from the U.S. government. Rengel was among 252 Venezuelans deported to El Salvador in March under Donald Trump’s invocation of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, accused of gang links despite scant evidence. He alleges he was falsely detained, deported, and brutally abused in El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison before being returned to Venezuela in a mid-July prisoner exchange ([Reuters](Reuters)).

🧾 What Happened

• Misidentification and Misleading Deportation: DHS agents detained Rengel in Irving, Texas, citing gang-affiliated tattoos. He was told he was being sent to Venezuela—but ended up in El Salvador, with no legal recourse or opportunity to appeal ([AP](Reuters)).

• Months Behind Bars in CECOT: While imprisoned, Rengel claims he endured psychological and physical abuse, incommunicado isolation, denial of legal representation, and conditions amounting to torture—common testimonies from fellow returnees who likened CECOT to a “horror movie” prison ([Guardian](The Guardian)).

• First of Many Potential Claims: This administrative filing under the Federal Tort Claims Act is the first step toward suing the U.S. government. Officials now have six months to respond—or face a federal court case. Other deportees may follow suit ([Reuters](Reuters).

🌐 Bigger Context

🔍 SMH Takeaway: When National Security Becomes National Shame

Rengel’s case is more than bureaucratic failure—it’s a testament to the danger of wielding archaic laws with zero accountability. When a person is shipped to a foreign prison under false pretenses—with no trial, no rights, and no oversight—the cost isn’t just legal. It’s moral.

If Rengel’s claim succeeds, it's likely just the beginning. The files of 252 lives remain vulnerable—and this could be the first domino in a broader reckoning. The real question: Will justice come for those silenced—or only justice deferred?

😐🇺🇸 #SMHAmerica #JusticeNotCruelty

• Reuters
• AP News
• The Guardian
• The Washington Post

 Protesters call for accountability in police shooting death of Jayland Walker

On Saturday, a large group of demonstrators gathered to protest the shooting death of Jayland Walker by Akron Police officers. Despite the beautiful weather, several hundred people marched between Second Baptist Church and the Akron Police Department, calling for accountability and transparency from the city and police department. The group demanded justice, stating that they would rather be at the pool on such a nice day but felt compelled to march because justice demands balance and equality. Signs and chants echoed their call for transparency and accountability.

The 25-year-old was killed in the early hours of Monday morning after a series of events that unfolded in less than five minutes. Officers tried to pull over Walker’s vehicle on Tallmadge Avenue in Akron's North Hill neighborhood around 12:30 a.m. Monday, but the car did not stop and led officers on a short pursuit. Within a few seconds of being on Route 8, officers heard a gunshot or multiple gunshots coming from Walker’s vehicle. Officers chased Walker on Route 8 and I-77, where he exited into the Firestone Park Area, before getting out of the car and running. The vehicle coasted into Firestone Christian Church while Walker ran through a grassy area and into a parking lot at Bridgestone. Officers opened fire, claiming Walker posed a deadly threat to them. The preliminary autopsy report showed more than 60 gunshot wounds on Walker’s body.

Protests have taken place in front of the Akron Police headquarters every day since Wednesday, causing periodic street closures and business shutdowns. On Thursday, the city canceled its annual Independence Day weekend event Rib, White and Blue. Mayor Dan Horrigan stated, “It’s not the time for a city-led celebration.” The Mayor and Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett will hold a press conference on Sunday at 1 p.m. to release more details and footage from the incident. Akron now requires the release of body camera footage within seven days of police use of force events that result in death or serious injury. The investigation has been turned over to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations.

Civil Unrest: Free Trump Bum-Kicks

Remembering Donald Trump: "Trump Anxiety Disorder"

Therapists in the United States report an increase in politically-induced anxiety, referred to as "Trump Anxiety Disorder," in the months leading up to and following Donald Trump's presidency. According to Elisabeth LaMotte, a therapist and founder of the D.C. Counseling and Psychotherapy Center in Washington D.C., many patients experience collective anxiety related to the possible consequences of Trump's decisions, rhetoric, and policies. Patients from various political affiliations exhibit similar behavior and stress levels. The American Psychological Association has recorded a rise in anxiety since the 2016 election, and a person's political affiliation can affect their risk of anxiety. Increased electronic news consumption has also been linked to higher stress levels.

Symptoms of "Trump Anxiety Disorder" include lack of sleep, feelings of losing control and helplessness, negative headlines, and excessive time spent on social media. Although not an official diagnosis, it has been theorized in a 2017 essay written by clinical psychologist Jennifer Panning for a book co-edited by Harvard and Yale psychologists. LaMotte compares patients' behavior to that of someone with a parent with a personality disorder, noting that many look to the president as a psychological parent, whether consciously or not.

Civil Unrest: Fist Fighting Mcdonald's Security

A brawl between a security guard and several customers at a Santa Monica McDonald's was caught on video early Wednesday morning. The incident occurred at the restaurant located on 2nd and Colorado streets at around 5 a.m., according to an eyewitness who filmed the altercation. The witness claimed that fights are commonplace at the location and many homeless individuals sleep in the area. The fight in question involved a group of customers who were drinking beer inside the establishment without purchasing any food. The security guard approached them and asked them to leave as they were loitering.

Would you Hug a Nazi?

The long-standing question of whether it's acceptable to physically assault a Nazi has a new twist: is it okay to give one a hug? Recently, a protester attempted this approach outside a speech given by white supremacist Richard Spencer in Gainesville, Florida. The protester, Aaron Courtney, who is a black high school football coach, approached Randy Furniss, who was wearing a swastika-emblazoned t-shirt and had been previously punched. Courtney asked Furniss, "Why don't you like me, dog? What is it? What is it?" in an attempt to understand his perspective. Furniss initially ignored the question, but Courtney persisted and eventually embraced him.

Ron Johnson's version of January 6th's Capitol Riots

On Tuesday, Senator Ron Johnson made claims suggesting that left-wing “provocateurs” and “fake” Trump supporters were responsible for the violence that took place during the Capitol riots on January 6. Johnson, who had previously refused to condemn former President Trump’s lies about the election, made the comments during a Senate committee hearing that was investigating how rioters were able to breach the Capitol. During the hearing, Johnson read from an article published in The Federalist, which claimed, without evidence, that “Antifa or other leftist agitators” were responsible for attacking police officers and turning peaceful protestors into an “invading mob”. The article also described Trump supporters as overwhelmingly peaceful and responsible and suggested that they did not litter. However, multiple sources, including BuzzFeed News and charging documents filed against rioters, have confirmed that the majority of those who stormed the Capitol on January 6 was Trump supporters who came to Washington D.C. prepared for a fight because they believed that the election had been stolen from Trump.

Despite this, Johnson spent most of his time during the hearing reading from The Federalist article and suggesting that left-wing “provocateurs” were responsible for the attack. Johnson was one of 13 Republican senators who initially voted against certifying Joe Biden’s Electoral College win but later reversed course after the Capitol siege.

The hearing was intended to analyze the security breakdowns of January 6, and committee members repeatedly heard that the National Guard, under the control of then-President Trump, was slow to respond. Acting DC Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee III described being “stunned” as the federal government dragged its heels on sending in troops.

Nick Fuentes and America First Vowing to Destroy the GOP

On December 12, 2020, a series of pro-Trump rallies occurred in Washington, DC, some of which were attended by white supremacists and extremists. One of the events was a prayer rally named the "Jericho March," where participants called for a Trump victory and the defeat of what they claimed to be corrupt and fraudulent election practices. Though mainstream speakers like Michael Flynn and Michael Lindell were present, the rally also featured speeches by anti-government conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the right-wing extremist group Oath Keepers. QAnon and Three Percenter flags and signage were visible at the event.

In his speech, Rhodes called on President Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act to help him remain in power. He added that if Trump didn't take such action, groups like the Oath Keepers would have to fight a "much more desperate [and] much more bloody war" to ensure that outcome. Meanwhile, Jones warned the crowd about "globalists," shouting that "Joe Biden is a globalist, and Joe Biden will be removed, one way or another!" The term "globalist" has been linked to anti-Semitic rhetoric.

Following the Jericho March, some attendees marched to the U.S. Supreme Court building led by Alex Jones, Owen Shroyer, and Ali Alexander, among others. Jones and his followers attempted to enter a rally already underway but were denied access by security. Angry, Jones, Shroyer, and Alexander delivered a brief speech on the sidewalk while marchers chanted various slogans.

Elsewhere, alt-right personality Nick Fuentes held his own "Stop the Steal" rally with a crowd that included white supremacist Vincent James and other extremists. Fuentes criticized the GOP for not supporting Trump and called for the party's destruction, leading the crowd in chants of "Destroy the GOP."

Throughout the day and night, violence broke out between right-wing extremists, including Proud Boys and Three Percenters, and counter-protesters, including Antifa and Black Lives Matter supporters. Several of these incidents were caught on video, including a disturbing attack by Proud Boys and Three Percenters on a lone individual. Law enforcement officers attempting to restore order were also injured, and at least four people were stabbed, including a police officer. 24 people were arrested for riot-related offenses.

IRONY: Trump proposes insurrection act on protesters for his church photo op

According to a report by The New York Times, aides to former President Donald Trump drafted an order last year that would have allowed him to invoke the Insurrection Act amid the ongoing protests and civil unrest following the police killing of George Floyd. The document was reportedly prepared on June 1, 2020, after Trump expressed his desire to deploy thousands of active-duty troops throughout Washington, D.C., to respond to the protests. However, then-Attorney General William Barr, Defense Secretary Mark Esper, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley talked him out of the plan. Some Trump aides still went ahead and prepared a draft order just in case Trump decided to go through with invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807, which allows the president to deploy the U.S.