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Venezuelans deported from the U.S. were killed hours later in powerful quakes
NPR • • general
Key Points:
- Angelo Mejía Meléndez, a Venezuelan deported from the U.S., died in the collapse of a hotel in La Guaira caused by twin earthquakes shortly after his arrival in Venezuela.
- Among 146 Venezuelan deportees on the flight, there are conflicting reports about how many survived the earthquake, with some families still searching hospitals and morgues for missing loved ones.
- Family members, such as Alonso Guanipa Toyo and Oswadeliz Nuñez, express frustration and grief over the lack of clear information and government response regarding the fate of deportees.
- Many deportees, including Mejía Meléndez and his friends, had been living and working legally in the U.S. before their deportation, highlighting the human impact of immigration policies.
- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has not commented on whether deportations of Venezuelans will continue following the earthquake tragedy, raising concerns among affected families.
