Ms. Casique’s son had no gang affiliations and had come to the United States in late 2023 seeking asylum. He had previously been working in Peru to support his family. During his journey north, he was injured in Mexico after falling from a train. When he turned himself in at the U.S. border, he was detained by immigration officers after they noticed his tattoos. The tattoos, which included a crown with the word “peace” and the names of his family members, led authorities to suspect him of being a member of Tren de Aragua.
After being held for two months in a detention center in Dallas, a judge determined that Mr. García did not pose a danger and allowed him to be released on the condition that he wear an electronic tracking device. Ms. Casique expressed relief when her son was released, but her worries increased after Mr. Trump’s inauguration. Despite reassurances from her, the authorities arrived at Mr. García’s door on Feb. 6 and took him into custody. Ms. Casique had believed that her son, who was not a criminal, would be protected by the country’s laws.
The New York Times was unable to independently verify the reasons for Mr. García’s detention and subsequent release. His mother had advised him to follow the country’s rules and assured him that he had nothing to fear from the U.S. government. Unfortunately, her hopes that the laws would protect her son were shattered when he was arrested. Ms. Casique expressed her naivety in believing that her son, who had committed no crimes, would be shielded by the legal system.
In the aftermath of Mr. García’s arrest, Ms. Casique was left grappling with the harsh reality of her son’s situation. She had been hopeful that her son would be safe in the United States, but the events of Feb. 6 shattered that belief. The authorities’ decision to detain him despite his lack of criminal activity left Ms. Casique feeling betrayed by the system she had once trusted to protect her son.
As Ms. Casique navigated the aftermath of her son’s arrest, she clung to the hope that justice would prevail and her son would be treated fairly. Despite her previous assurances to her son, she now found herself questioning the efficacy of the legal system. The uncertainty surrounding her son’s case and the lack of transparency from the authorities left Ms. Casique feeling powerless and desperate for answers.
Gabriel Labrador provided additional reporting from San Salvador, El Salvador, shedding light on the broader implications of Mr. García’s case. The story of Ms. Casique and her son offers a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by asylum seekers and the complexities of immigration policies. The struggle for justice and the quest for protection in a new country underscore the importance of advocating for fair and humane treatment of all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances.
