Venezuelan Man with Autism Awareness Tattoo Sent to Prison Despite Being Declared "Clean" by ICE
- A.R.
- Mar 28
- 2 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
A Venezuelan man has been wrongfully imprisoned in El Salvador's notorious Terrorism Confinement Center simply because of his tattoos, including one of an autism awareness ribbon honoring his autistic brother - a symbol representing neurodiversity that we discuss in the Our Values Are Story page.
This disturbing case powerfully demonstrates why the Our Values Are project's emphasis on human dignity. The declaration that "No Human Is Illegal" is so crucial in today's climate. When individuals are judged based on appearance rather than character, we witness a direct violation of fundamental human rights that should be protected for all.¹
Neri Alvarado Borges, 25, was detained in Houston this February when ICE agents targeted him specifically for his tattoos. An agent reportedly told him they were finding and questioning everyone with tattoos. After Alvarado explained that one of his three tattoos was an autism awareness ribbon dedicated to his 15-year-old brother, and after officials searched his phone, agents declared him clean with no ties to criminal organizations.²
Despite this determination, Alvarado remained detained without explanation. His family believed he would be returned to Venezuela but instead discovered his name on a list of 238 Venezuelans sent to El Salvador's maximum-security prison. This happened on Alvarado's 25th birthday.³
His sister María told reporters that anyone who has talked with Neri even briefly would recognize his good character. The family is devastated to see him experiencing such injustice, especially knowing he has never done anything wrong.
The Our Values Are project continues to stand firmly for values like equality, respect, and the fundamental dignity of every human being. In times when people are labeled and detained based on superficial characteristics rather than actions, visibly declaring these values becomes not just important but essential to creating a more just society.
Get the Our Values Are image → Display it on your website → Amplify your values!
References
¹ United Nations. (1948). Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 2 states that everyone is entitled to rights and freedoms "without distinction of any kind."
² Mother Jones. (2025, April). "Detained for Their Tattoos: How Venezuelan Migrants Are Being Wrongfully Imprisoned." This report details how migrants like Alvarado Borges are being targeted based on appearance.
³ CBS News. (2025, March). "238 Venezuelan Men Deported to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center." The article revealed the names of individuals sent to the Salvadoran prison.