More than 100 Venezuelans deported from the United States were being held in a hotel when earthquakes struck Venezuela, setting off a scramble to find survivors and bodies buried in the rubble. A deportation flight from Miami arrived in Caracas hours before Wednesday's 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes. On board were 146 Venezuelans, including 19 women and seven children, according to ICE Flight Monitor, an initiative of Human Rights First, which tracks deportation flights. The deportees were transported to the Hotel Santuario La Llanada in La Guaira, one of the hardest-hit areas.
Immediate Action & Core Facts
Lisbeth Portillo, 58, escaped the rubble with about 20 other deportees. They walked five kilometers to find help, witnessing devastation and trauma. Portillo described the experience as life-altering, saying, "I was born again; God gave me a second chance." Families in the U.S. are mourning or searching for missing loved ones, including José Rafael Rossi Ydrogo, who was deported despite pending legal review. His wife, Enit Hernández, last heard from him 20 minutes before the earthquake.
Deeper Dive & Context
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed the flight safely reached Venezuela, stating that ICE is no longer responsible for deportees once they leave custody. Survivors reported that SEBIN guards did not open the doors as the building collapsed. The official death toll in Venezuela stands at 1,450, with over 50,000 missing. Deportation flights to Venezuela resumed in February 2025 after a 13-month pause, with 12 flights in May alone.
Policy and Political Views
Critics argue the deportations reflect broader U.S. immigration policies, while others emphasize the tragic timing of the earthquakes. The Venezuelan government has not publicly addressed the deportees' fate, focusing instead on the broader disaster response. The U.S. has not commented on potential changes to deportation protocols following the incident.