Father sent to Salvadoran prison, mother deported, daughter in U.S. foster care
Maiker Alejandro Espinoza Escalona was held at Guantánamo Bay before being sent to a prison in El Salvador, while his partner was deported to Venezuela without their daughter. Their daughter remains in U.S. foster care after three placements.
Mar 28, 2025

Maiker Alejandro Espinoza Escalona, a plaintiff in Escalona v. Noem challenging ICE transfers to Guantánamo Bay, was held at the U.S. detention facility there from March 28 to 29, 2025 before being flown to El Salvador, where he was placed in the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT). His partner, Yorely Bernal Inciarte, was deported to Venezuela in April 2025 without their daughter, Maikelys Antonella Espinoza Bernal, who remains in U.S. custody under the Office of Refugee Resettlement. According to reporting by the Morning Star, Maikelys has been moved through three foster homes over the past year, with one placement changed following allegations of sexual abuse. Demonstrators in Caracas have called for her return to Venezuela.
Tags
Sources
- Brazilian Trans Woman Recounts Harrowing Experience in Guantánamo Bay ICE Facility
Them·Apr 30, 2025·archived copy
- CourtListener
- Maiker Espinoza halló "una pesadilla" en EEUU y ahora está en El Salvador siendo inocente
Tal Cual Digital·Apr 5, 2025·archived copy
- Daily Dodge
Show 1 more source ↓Show fewer sources ↑
Loading…
Related incidents
- ICE arrests four Haitian nationals in nationwide sweepOct 22, 2026 · Washington, DC
- Ahmed S.: Gay Arizona man deported, beaten in Equatorial GuineaOct 22, 2026 · Tucson, AZ
- ICE agent points pistol at workers during Texas workplace raidOct 21, 2026 · Brownsville, TX
- Three parents arrested by ICE outside Van Nuys elementary schoolOct 21, 2026 · Van Nuys, CA
- Oakland man hospitalized with broken ribs after ICE tackles him to groundOct 21, 2026 · Oakland, CA
- Santa Rosa man pulled from car at gunpoint by ICE agentsOct 21, 2026 · Santa Rosa, CA