GENEVA (29 August 2025) – The arbitrary detention and
imminent deportation of three Venezuelan political
dissidents and a human rights defender living in exile in
the United States would breach international human rights
law and refugee law, UN experts* warned today.
Dehivis
David Olivo Hernández, Gregory José Sanabria Tarazona,
Teobaldo Antonio León and Wilmer Alexander García
Vallenilla face deportation to Venezuela based on
unsubstantiated allegations that they pose national security
risks to the United States, the experts said.
“We
are alarmed that their deportation would violate the
principle of non-refoulment, which prohibits the transfer of
individuals to any country where they face a real and
foreseeable risk of arbitrary deprivation of life, torture,
enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, persecution,
unfair trial, or other serious human rights violations,”
they said. This protection applies regardless of migration
status or nationality.
The US Government claims,
without evidence, that the four Venezuelans are affiliated
with the criminal organisation Tren de Aragua, which has
been wrongfully designated by the United States as a
terrorist organisation. This, in turn, has exposed them to
summary deportation under the Alien Enemies Act, since the
United States unlawfully asserts that Tren de Aragua is
committing an “invasion or predatory incursion” into the
US at the direction of Venezuela.
“We are sounding
the alarm that these individuals face serious human rights
violations if returned to Venezuela,” the experts said.
“At least two have suffered documented acts of torture in
Venezuela. All are at risk of further persecution, abuse or
enforced disappearance.”
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The US has an obligation to
uphold these protections as a party to the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and under customary
international law.
“We are particularly concerned
that deportations are imminent despite the lack of
individual assessment of the risks to them in Venezuela,
especially due to their prior political activities or human
rights work,” the experts said.
They also raised
concerns about their detention, noting that the individuals
were reportedly apprehended during routine immigration or
court appointments, without adequate notice or reason and
reportedly denied opportunities to access legal assistance
and to effectively challenge their deportations and claim
non-refoulement.
“The US Government must immediately
halt the deportations of these four individuals and conduct
proper individualised assessments in line with international
law,” the experts said. “Authorities must guarantee
access to effective remedies, and refrain from further
actions that may place them or any other deportees at risk
of serious human rights violations.”
“Venezuela
must also guarantee the safety, dignity, and rights of the
four individuals should they be returned,” the experts
said.
In line with international human rights law, the
experts called on the Venezuelan authorities to ensure that
none of the individuals or their family members are
subjected to reprisals, including detention, or prosecution
for peacefully exercising their freedom of expression,
association and assembly and their right to participate in
public affairs.
“All allegations of human rights
violations by any national authorities must be independently
investigated and effective remedies provided to the
victims,” the experts said.
They have been in
contact with both Governments on these issues.
*The
experts:
- Ben Saul, Special
Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights
and fundamental freedoms while countering
terrorism; - Gabriella Citroni
(Chair-Rapporteur), Grażyna Baranowska (Vice-Chair), Ana
Lorena Delgadillo Pérez, Aua Baldé and Mohammed Al-Obaidi,
Working
Group on Enforced or Involuntary
Disappearances - Mary Lawlor, Special
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights
defenders - Gehad Madi, Special
Rapporteur on the human rights of
migrants - Margaret Satterthwaite, Special
Rapporteur on the independence of judges and
lawyers - George Katrougalos, Independent
Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable
international
order
