Brayan Palencia Benavides

Coming to the US

In 2023 Brayan Palencio Benavides decided to migrate to the US, traveling through the Darien jungle and leaving behind a young daughter. He hurt his knee along the way, and was robbed of everything in Honduras.  Once in Mexico, Brayan got a job in an auto repair shop while he waited for his appointment with CPB One.  However after a few weeks he crossed into the US illegally by way of the Rio Grande into Texas.  US authorities detained him, but released him a few days later. For a year he worked construction in Miami with an uncle and started to get ahead,

Tattoos

Brayan has tattoos on his chest and arms with images of his daughter, his mother, and some flowers. His family insists he has no gang affiliation or criminal record.

Detained and Expelled 

On January 30 Brayan was scheduled to appear before a court in Los Angeles to determine his immigration status.  There he was detained and spent a month in jail.  The last time Brayans father heard from him was March 13 when he told his family he was being deported to Venezuela.  After a couple of days with no news from him, the family suspected he may have been on one of the planes sent to El Salvador.  On March 20 their suspicions were confirmed when Brayan’s name appeared on the list of men sent to CECOT.

Legal support for Brayan’s release

A law firm, Bufete Grupo Ortega, has been hired by the Venezuelan government. They have petitioned El Salvador’s Supreme  Court to transfer the detainees to immigration detention centers and to ensure they are provided with basic rights like healthcare, food, and communication with family.

Source: https://english.elpais.com/usa/2025-04-18/the-family-awaiting-the-return-of-their-son-from-el-salvadors-mega-prison-we-are-asking-trump-to-release-him.html