Neri Alvarado Borges
Synopsis
Neri Alvarado Borges is a Venezuelan baker who moved to the Lewisville, Texas, area in April 2024 to pursue asylum. The American Immigration Council highlighted his case among people sent to CECOT despite weak or absent evidence of gang ties. According to a Mother Jones investigation cited by the Council, ICE officers in Texas were detaining and interrogating Venezuelans with tattoos. Alvarado Borges's sister told CBS Texas that one tattoo is a rainbow autism-awareness design honoring his 15-year-old autistic brother; others read "family" and "brothers" in Spanish. She said an ICE officer once told him tattoos and social media showed no Tren de Aragua connection, yet he remained detained. ICE stated he was arrested on February 24, 2025, and that an immigration judge issued a final order of removal on March 5, 2025. He was deported to CECOT in March 2025. His family learned he was in El Salvador only after his name appeared on published deportee lists. Reporting on the broader CECOT cohort indicates he was later released through a U.S.–Venezuela prisoner exchange on July 18, 2025. TIMELINE 2023 — Arrives in the United States and settles in the Dallas area; works at a bakery (Immigration Council, CBS Texas). February 24, 2025 — ICE arrests him in Texas (ICE statement reported by CBS Texas). March 5, 2025 — Immigration judge issues final order of removal, per ICE (CBS Texas). March 2025 — Deported to CECOT in El Salvador; family not notified directly (Immigration Council, CBS Texas). July 18, 2025 — Released from CECOT in a U.S.–Venezuela prisoner exchange (NILC). This profile summarizes published reporting; legal status and location may change.
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