More than 140 Venezuelans recently deported from the United States were caught in a series of devastating earthquakes in La Guaira, Venezuela. The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude tremors struck a hotel where deportees were being held, triggering a scramble to find survivors and bodies buried in the rubble.
What happened to the deportees in La Guaira?
A deportation flight from Miami arrived in Caracas hours before the earthquakes struck on Wednesday. According to ICE Flight Monitor, an initiative of Human Rights First, the flight carried 146 Venezuelans, including 19 women and seven children.
The deportees were being held at the Hotel Santuario La Llanada for medical exams and identification processing. Lisbeth Portillo, 58, described the moment the shaking began while she was in a second-floor room with 16 other women.
“I started hearing ‘papa, papa papapa,’ and I saw the women next to me start to fall,” Portillo told the AP. She said she was buried under a beam but managed to escape as the shaking shifted the debris.
Another survivor, 24-year-old Jenny Rodriguez, told the Telemundo network that she was trapped under rubble. She managed to free her hand and grab a colleague’s trousers to beg for help, according to her account.
The two earthquakes that struck Venezuela are categorized by seismologists as a “doublet,” occurring in rapid succession.
How many casualties were reported by the Venezuelan government?
The Venezuelan government reports that more than 1,700 people have been killed as a result of the seismic activity. The hardest-hit area remains La Guaira, where survivors reported seeing people emerging from building ruins barefoot or naked.
While specific numbers for the deportees’ casualties have not been confirmed, the scale of the destruction in the area where they were housed has complicated efforts to locate all individuals. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) did not immediately respond to requests for information regarding the status of the deportees.
Why are deportation flights to Venezuela increasing?
Data from ICE Flight Monitor indicates a shift in deportation patterns. After a 13-month pause, deportation flights to Venezuela resumed in February 2025.
In May, the U.S. conducted 12 deportation flights to Venezuela, averaging three flights per week. This follows a broader trend of mass deportations; in that same month, ICE Flight Monitor tracked 288 deportation flights to various countries, including Chile, Cambodia, and the Ivory Coast.
The role of NGO monitoring
Organizations like Human Rights First use tools such as the ICE Flight Monitor to track these movements. This data provides transparency regarding the frequency and destinations of deportation flights, which can be difficult for families to track through official channels.
Families seeking information on deported relatives can contact the specific detention center in the U.S. where the individual was held, though official responses may be limited to confirmation of deportation.
How can families track deported relatives?
The earthquake has highlighted the difficulty families face when loved ones are deported. Liliana Rojas told Telemundo that she has been unable to locate her 33-year-old partner. Although a detention center in El Paso, Texas, confirmed he was deported, Rojas stated that no further information has been provided.
For survivors like Portillo, communication was initially impossible due to the destruction. She eventually reached a National Guard building to contact her husband in the United States, who then helped reunite her with her children.
Comparison of Deportation Activity
| Metric | Data Point | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Venezuela Flights (May) | 12 flights | ICE Flight Monitor |
| Total Global Flights (May) | 288 flights | ICE Flight Monitor |
| Estimated Deaths | 1,700+ | Venezuelan Government |
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the magnitude of the earthquakes in Venezuela?
The region was struck by two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude.
Where were the deportees being held?
The deportees were staying at the Hotel Santuario La Llanada in La Guaira, Venezuela.
How many people were on the deportation flight from Miami?
There were 146 Venezuelans on the flight, including 19 women and seven children.
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