'I am here legally but I am scared' says Venezuelan after deportation of countryman

A recent immigration raid that ended in the deportation of an alleged illegal South American gang member living in Holly Hill has left the Venezuelan community in Volusia County shaken and scared, since they say the man was in the United States legally.

"No, hermano (brother), I can't show my face in a video. I am scared," said a man contacted by the News-Journal. "I am here legally under the TPS (Temporary Protected Status), but what if the police show up and do to me what they did to Ciro, who had papeles (papers)."

On April 22, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Holly Hill resident Ciro Ramon Castaneda Perez, 47, on accusations that he was a criminal illegal alien and a member of the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua.

Those who knew Castaneda Perez say he was in the United States legally and had a different story to tell.

"Ciro was a good person," said a woman who requested anonymity. "We were surprised that the news said Ciro was arrested because he was here illegally and was a gang member. We didn't know him to be that."

Some friends scrolled through Castaneda Perez's social media to show his Christian posts telling friends to "live a life for Christ" and "to pray to Christ to have victory in life."

Port Orange Police: Castaneda Perez had Florida license

A traffic stop report filed by Port Orange police on April 12 states that Castaneda Perez had a Florida driver's license and was an employee of the Walmart on Dunlawton Avenue.

Port Orange police stopped Castaneda Perez for an expired California tag, and after they held him for three hours, searched his car and allegedly found a piece of straw with traces of cocaine, they did not arrest him, his friends said.

The report shows Port Orange police released Castaneda Perez after issuing him a notice to appear.

Several members of the Venezuelan community contacted by the News-Journal said they were fearful. Those who spoke to a reporter asked to remain anonymous.

Another man who grew up in the same neighborhood in Caracas, Venezuela, said he knew Castaneda Perez as a childhood friend with whom he used to play. He never knew Castaneda Perez to be a part of Tren de Aragua or any other criminal group, he said.

"He worked with aduanas (customs) and he also provided security for wealthy people," the man said. "That's what I knew he did in Caracas."

A former Venezuelan firefighter said Castaneda Perez, who moved here from California, had been in Florida for less than a month before ICE showed up at his door.

He had changed his California driver's license to a Florida one a few days before the Port Orange traffic stop, he said. After the traffic stop, he helped Castaneda Perez with $100 to get Florida license plates.

"He was here legally, he had papers, so I am left confused when I hear he was arrested because he was undocumented," his friend said.

Where is Ciro Ramon Castaneda Perez?

Castaneda Perez was taken to an immigration detention center and shortly after was deported to his hometown of Caracas in Venezuela.

"He was sent back pretty fast," his friend said. "They didn't keep him for long."

Asked if Castaneda Perez was in a Venezuelan prison since the U.S. government said he was a member of the violent gang, Tren de Aragua, a good friend said the deportee was at home.

"No. He was handed over to authorities in Venezuela as soon as he arrived there," the friend said. "They did a drug test on him, got negative results, and after an investigation about his gang affiliation, they let him go. I guess they didn't find any connections."

A cousin in Miami said in a telephone call that she was talking with a lawyer to see what can be done to clear Castaneda Perez's name.