Texas Detainees Spell SOS Message Amid Deportation Fears

Thirty-one detainees at the Bluebonnet Detention Facility in Anson, Texas, formed an SOS message in a dirt field after spotting a Reuters drone, signaling distress due to fears of deportation. Many of the men are accused by authorities of being members of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, though some deny any gang affiliation, with families and detainees asserting they are not criminals. The Trump administration has targeted such detainees for deportation under the Alien Enemies Act, but the Supreme Court recently blocked these deportations temporarily following legal challenges. Some detainees express concern about being sent to notorious prisons in countries like El Salvador, raising human rights and legal due process questions. Video footage shows the men waving and making peace signs before arranging themselves into the SOS formation, highlighting their plea for attention and help. The situation has drawn scrutiny over the criteria used to label detainees as gang members and over the broader use of rarely-invoked deportation laws.