US Deportees Arrive in Venezuela Hours Before Deadly Twin Earthquakes.

Fears are mounting for Venezuelan nationals deported from the United States who arrived in their home country just hours before twin earthquakes devastated the region. Rescue crews are currently combing through the rubble of a hotel in La Guaira where these deportees were detained, searching desperately for survivors according to accounts from those who escaped. The United States removed more than 140 individuals to Venezuela on the same day that seismic activity rocked the nation, leaving officials and families in a race against time.

A deportation flight departing from Miami landed in Venezuela on June 24, preceding the major tremors, as reported by The Associated Press. On board were 146 Venezuelans, a group that included 19 women and seven children, according to ICE Flight Monitor, an initiative by Human Rights First that tracks deportation movements. The deportations occurred under the administration of President Donald Trump, whose drive for mass deportations saw 288 flights sent to 38 countries in May alone, with 12 of those routes leading to Venezuela.

Lisbeth Portillo, one of the deportees, told AP that she fled the collapsing hotel with approximately 20 others, walking through the streets of La Guaira to seek aid. Portillo described the chaos as she emerged from the destruction, seeing people running naked or barefoot through one of the hardest-hit areas. "We walked about 5km [3.1 miles], and I cried and cried… There was no communication," she said, noting that she only reached a National Guard building where she could finally contact relatives. She expressed profound relief, adding, "I was born again; God gave me a second chance."

The devastation was immediate and catastrophic. Portillo recalled standing on the hotel balcony when the first quake struck, hearing the sound described as "papa, papa, papapa" before seeing women fall and hear screams for help. Almost instantly, a second, even more powerful earthquake hit. The Venezuelan government has confirmed that more than 1,700 people were killed across the country by the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 quakes. Another powerful magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck near Venezuela shortly after, complicating the rescue efforts further.

Survivors recounted harrowing moments of entrapment. Jenny Rodriguez told the Telemundo network that she was trapped under debris until a colleague from the same flight arrived. "I managed to free my hand from the debris, grabbed him by the trousers, and begged for help," Rodriguez said. "Thanks to God, and to him, I was able to get out of there." A video from the Venezuelan government showed deportees being received by authorities at Caracas airport, but the reality for many on that flight remains grim.

The implications of these deportations extend beyond the immediate disaster. Advocates warn of the wide-ranging consequences of such movements, especially when coupled with legal rulings like the US Supreme Court's decision on Temporary Protected Status. The situation highlights the precarious position of migrants who, stripped of their status and support networks, are left vulnerable to government directives without a safety net. While the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately respond to requests for information, the search for the missing continues. Many of those on last week's flight from Miami are now feared to be among the casualties of the earthquakes, raising urgent questions about the risks communities face when policy overrides humanitarian considerations.