29-year-old dad believed to be among immigrants sent to Guantanamo Bay

A Venezuelan family in Washington state is speaking out after learning a family member has likely been sent to an immigration detention facility in Guantanamo Bay.

Jose Gregorio Medina-Andrade was arrested at a grocery store in Kent in November for violating his parole. He had been charged earlier with illegal re-entry into the United States, which is a criminal charge.

First time illegal entry into the U.S. is typically a civil violation, similar to a speeding ticket. The second time raises the stakes to a criminal charge.

The Trump administration alleges people sent to Guantanamo are some of the worst criminal offenders.

That doesn’t add up for Medina-Andrade’s wife and sister.

“He wanted to make a life for himself,” his sister said in Spanish. “What they're saying is lies. He was running from the very gang they are accusing him of being in.”

Because of their immigration status, the family requested anonymity.

Medina-Andrade came to the U.S. in 2023 with his family, seeking asylum. He was denied and then deported, leaving his family behind.

He returned to the U.S. later that year, was detained and held at an immigration detention facility in Texas. This is where he got a criminal case filed against him. Medina-Andrade was released in July as his court proceedings were underway.

“His family tried to follow all of the rules and directions that were given to them by ICE,” said Jessica Rojas. Rojas is an organizer of the International Migrant Alliance, a grassroots group that has often been working alongside asylum seekers that have moved to the Seattle area.

But Medina-Andrade missed a notice for a court hearing, according to his family, which resulted in a warrant being issued for his arrest.

ICE’s detainee registry said Sunday night that Medina-Andrade is being held in Florida. But a New York Times article listing names of 53 immigrants held at Guantanamo Bay, makes the family believe otherwise.

Paige Browning contributed to this report.