Grandpa's 'deported' to Guatemala hoax debunked by feds

The Story of Luis Leon: A Deception Unveiled

A story that gained significant attention across various media outlets, claiming that a Pennsylvania grandfather was secretly taken by ICE agents and deported to Guatemala, has been debunked as a hoax. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), this narrative is entirely false, and it appears that the individual in question may have died six years ago.

Luis Leon, described as an 82-year-old Chilean national, was said to have been handcuffed and taken away by federal officers during a green card appointment in Philadelphia on June 20. His family claimed that they were informed he had died in ICE custody, only for him to later appear alive at a hospital in Guatemala. This account sparked widespread concern and led to coverage by several prominent outlets, including the Daily Beast, the Guardian, and the Independent.

However, the DHS has since denied these allegations, stating that there is no record of Leon being arrested or deported to Guatemala. The agency emphasized that such claims are not only false but also aimed at tarnishing the image of ICE agents, who are already facing a significant increase in assaults against them.

The Role of Media in the Controversy

The initial report by the Morning Call led to further interest from other media outlets, but the story quickly unraveled under scrutiny. The DHS criticized the media for rushing to publish without verifying the facts, calling it journalistic malpractice. According to the statement from Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant press secretary for DHS, “ICE never arrested or deported Luis Leon to Guatemala. Nor does ICE ‘disappear’ people — this is a categorical lie being peddled to demonize ICE agents.”

The DHS also highlighted that there is no record of Leon appearing at any green card appointment in the Philadelphia area on June 20. This raises questions about the accuracy of the family's claims and the information provided to the media.

Conflicting Accounts and Evidence

Leon’s family told reporters that he was sent to a Minnesota detention facility, and a woman claiming to be an immigration lawyer contacted them, stating that he had died in ICE custody. She offered assistance without revealing how she knew about the case. Later, the family learned that Leon was in a hospital in Guatemala through a Chilean relative.

Despite these claims, the Guatemalan Institute of Migration, which collaborates with ICE on all deportations from the U.S., stated that it had not received anyone matching Leon’s name, age, or nationality. Additionally, while Guatemala has agreements to receive U.S. deportees from Central American countries, this does not extend to South America.

Background on Luis Leon

Leon was granted political asylum in the U.S. in 1987 and worked in a leather manufacturing plant for 40 years before retiring. However, according to ICE, the only record of Leon entering the U.S. is from 2015 under a visa waiver program from Chile.

A death certificate from Santiago, Chile, dated 2019, was presented to the Morning Call by a Chilean journalist named Jose Del Pino. This document adds another layer of confusion to the story, suggesting that Leon may have passed away long before the alleged deportation.

The Morning Call's Response

In response to the controversy, the Morning Call published an updated story defending its reporting. The outlet stated that its reporters repeatedly requested information from ICE during their investigation. An ICE spokesperson previously refused to confirm details, including whether or not Leon was even at the Philadelphia office. On Monday, ICE investigators reportedly could not contact the family.

Leon’s supposed family has since stated that they will no longer speak to the media and have asked for privacy. The Morning Call did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

This incident highlights the importance of thorough fact-checking and verification in journalism, especially when dealing with sensitive topics like immigration and law enforcement. It also underscores the need for transparency and accountability from both the media and government agencies.