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Juan B.: Nicaraguan former political prisoner stripped of nationality deported to Honduras by ICE

Juan Barilla, 35, a Nicaraguan farmer and former political prisoner resettled in Louisiana, was taken into ICE custody after a DUI arrest. He was deported to Honduras in November 2025 and now fears retaliation from Nicaragua's government.

Dec 1, 2025Country of origin: Nicaragua

Juan B.: Nicaraguan former political prisoner stripped of nationality deported to Honduras by ICE
Photo via Human Rights Watch

Juan Barilla, 35, a peasant farmer from San Miguelito in Nicaragua's Río San Juan department, spent 29 months imprisoned after being kidnapped by paramilitaries in 2020, and was among 222 political prisoners the Ortega-Murillo government expelled to the United States in February 2023, stripping him of his nationality. He resettled in Louisiana with humanitarian parole and a work permit, but was arrested by local police on April 5, 2025 for driving under the influence; even after a judge ordered his release following his 112-day sentence, he was held because of an ICE appointment, and ICE took him into custody in July 2025. Representing himself without a lawyer through several immigration court hearings on his pending asylum case, he said he was never allowed to present notarized evidence of his imprisonment and torture in Nicaragua. In October 2025, prosecutors sought protection for him under the Convention Against Torture with removal to Honduras rather than asylum, and he was deported there on November 29, 2025, describing being shackled at the hands, feet and waist 'like a criminal.' He is now under temporary UNHCR protection in Honduras and says he fears transnational retaliation from the Nicaraguan regime.

“Un día menos pensado, cuando estaba en la celda, los del centro de detención llegaron y me llamaron por mi nombre y me dijeron: alístate que te van a remover. Me sacaron, llevaron al aeropuerto Alejandría en Luisiana. Iba encadenado de pies, mano y cintura, como un criminal (...) Eso fue una tortura, un calvario”
— Juan Barilla
“No te golpean como en Nicaragua, pero te quiebran psicológicamente”
— Juan Barilla

Timeline

Dec 1, 2025—Placed under temporary UNHCR protection in Honduras, expressing fear of regional retaliation from Nicaraguan authorities
Nov 29, 2025—Deported from the United States to Honduras, shackled during transfer
Oct 1, 2025—Immigration judge, at government's request, considered protection under Convention Against Torture with removal to Honduras instead of asylum
Jul 1, 2025—Taken into ICE custody after completing 112-day jail sentence and transferred to Winfield detention center
Apr 5, 2025—Arrested by local police in Louisiana for driving under the influence
Feb 1, 2023—Expelled to the United States with 221 other political prisoners and stripped of Nicaraguan nationality
Jan 1, 2020—Kidnapped by paramilitaries in Nicaragua
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