Henry Javier Vargas Lugo

Coming to the US

Henry Javier Vargas Lugo, 32,is originally from the Venezuelan coastal state, La Guaira. He lived in Colombia for seven years working as a mechanic in Bogota before seeking a fresh start in the US. He entered through El Paso bringing his daughter and her mother with him. He was asked by the Border Patrol agent who asked him to remove his shirt to document his tattoos. When asked if he was affiliated with Tren de Aragua, he denied it. He has several tattoos including crowns with his mother and niece’s names, a clock on his arm and a rosary. After entry he settled in Colorado working odd jobs delivering food and shoveling snow. 

He was arrested on January 29 on extortion charges connected to an incident that occurred on the light rail. He was released pending an investigation. The DEA released a photo identifying him as a member of Tren de Aragua, but no evidence to support that accusation was disclosed. He was not sentenced with a crime. 

Detained and disappeared

Conflicting statements in News articles say he was detained on January 29 and later transported to Texas. His family identified him in a video posted by President Bukele with his hands shackled and head bowed. 

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article302251339.html