Trump Admin Asks for More Time to Locate Venezuelan Man Reportedly Sent to CECOT After Judge Demands Answers

The Trump administration asked a Houston federal judge for more time to locate a 24-year-old Venezuelan man who was reportedly sent to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT).

Widmer Agelviz-Sanguino fled Venezuela for Ecuador before being granted refugee status by the U.S. government. But when he arrived at Bush Intercontinental Airport, Customs and Border Protection officers detained him over his tattoos, which included roses, an owl and a clock, claiming they linked him to the Tren de Aragua gang.

He was transferred to an ICE detention center in fall 2024, despite denying any ties to the gang, and has been held there ever since. His family and legal team stayed in contact until communication abruptly stopped in mid-March. They now believe he was sent to CECOT.

"The family has not heard a word from him and to be honest there's been no actual proof that he's actually in CECOT or El Salvador," Agelviz-Sanguino's attorney, Javier Rivera, told Houston Public Media. "We are basing this off of a news article that was published on CBS with the manifesting list of the Venezuelan individuals that were deported to CECOT."

During Monday's hearing, a federal judge gave the Trump administration 24 hours to locate the missing Venezuelan national, provide an update on his health, and explain why he has been detained. Within two days, the court ordered the government facilitate a conversatoin between Agelviz-Sanguino and his attorneys.

A government official, however, informed the court in a Tuesday night filing that they had failed to learn any information about the missing man's whereabouts.

"It is puzzling that the government would seek an extension on their first deadline only to file a declaration that states they have no information on Widmer," Rivera told the Houston Chronicle. "He was forcibly removed to (the Terrorism Confinement Center) over two months ago and they refuse to own up and acknowledge their unlawful actions even after court order."