NewsNBC 6 South FloridaJune 30, 2026United States
Deportees from U.S. caught in Venezuelan earthquakes
Over 100 individuals recently deported from the United States were staying at a hotel in La Guaira, Venezuela, when major earthquakes struck the region. Survivors report being trapped in the rubble of the building, with many still missing as the death toll from the disaster reaches 1,700.
Read the full story at NBC 6 South FloridaWhy It Matters
The incident highlights the immediate aftermath for individuals deported from the U.S. to Venezuela, where 146 people were sent on a single flight hours before a 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquake occurred.
Key Facts
- A deportation flight carrying 146 Venezuelans arrived in Venezuela hours before earthquakes struck on Wednesday.
- The flight included 19 women and seven children.
- Deportees were held at the Hotel Santuario La Llanada in La Guaira for processing.
- The Venezuelan government reports the death toll from the earthquakes has reached 1,700.
- Deportation flights to Venezuela resumed in February 2025 after a 13-month pause.
- In May, the U.S. conducted 12 deportation flights to Venezuela, operating three days a week.
- ICE Flight Monitor tracked 288 deportation flights to 38 countries in May.
- Lisbeth Portillo, a deportee, had a pending asylum claim after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in November 2021.
Who's Mentioned
personLisbeth Portillo“A 58-year-old deportee who survived the hotel collapse.”personJenny Rodriguez“A 24-year-old deportee who survived the collapse.”personLiliana Rojas“A woman searching for her 33-year-old partner who was deported.”organizationHuman Rights First“The organization behind the ICE Flight Monitor.”locationHotel Santuario La Llanada“The hotel in La Guaira where deportees were held.”organizationICE Flight Monitor“An initiative of Human Rights First that tracks deportation flights.”