US Deportees Sent to Venezuela as Earthquakes Strike the Country

US Deportees Among Earthquake Victims in Venezuela

A deportation flight from Miami arrived in Venezuela hours before twin earthquakes struck the country, according to reports. The flight, which departed on June 24, carried 146 Venezuelans, including 19 women and seven children. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency tracked this flight as part of its deportation efforts.

The group was taken to a hotel in La Guaira city, where they were being held before their deportation. However, the hotel suffered significant damage during the earthquakes, which had a magnitude of 7.2 and 7.5. Rescue crews are currently searching for survivors in the rubble of the hotel.

According to survivors, including Lisbeth Portillo, who escaped from the rubble with about 20 others, they were forced to walk through the streets looking for help after emerging from the destruction. The group eventually reached a National Guard building where they had access to communication devices and could contact relatives.

The Venezuelan government has reported that more than 1,700 people were killed by the earthquakes across the country. The US deportation agency did not immediately respond to requests for information about its efforts in Venezuela following the disaster.

In May, ICE Flight Monitor tracked 288 deportation flights to 38 countries, including Venezuela, which received 12 such flights during the same month.

Source: Al Jazeera