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More than 100 Venezuelans deported from US were in La Guaira hotel destroyed by earthquakes
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Over 100 Venezuelans deported from the U.S. were staying at a hotel in La Guaira when two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, causing panic and destruction at the site.
- Survivors, including Lisbeth Portillo, described being trapped under rubble and escaping with injuries, while others searched for missing loved ones amid the chaos.
- The Venezuelan government reported over 1,700 deaths from the earthquakes, which occurred just hours after the deportees arrived on a flight from Miami.
- Deportation flights to Venezuela resumed in February 2025 after a 13-month pause, with the U.S. running 12 flights in May alone, part of a broader increase in mass deportations under the Trump administration.
- Communication challenges persisted for survivors, some of whom had pending asylum claims, highlighting the human toll of deportations compounded by natural disasters.
