Deportees Among Thousands Missing After Venezuela Earthquakes

The 146 individuals on the deportation flight, including 19 women and seven children, were housed at the Hotel Santuario La Llanada when 7.2 and 7.5-magnitude tremors struck the area. Survivors described a desperate escape from the wreckage, with many searching for missing companions amidst the chaos. Lisbeth Portillo, 58, recounted fleeing the building alongside other deportees, while Jenny Rodriguez narrowly escaped after being pinned under debris, saved only by the intervention of a fellow passenger.

While families continue to scour hospitals and clinics for loved ones, the official response from U.S. authorities remains detached. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson stated that once individuals leave ICE custody, the agency is no longer responsible for their welfare. Meanwhile, the scale of the disaster continues to mount, with Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez reporting at least 1,719 deaths and over 5,000 injuries. Search and rescue operations involve more than 2,000 workers from two dozen countries, yet with over 44,000 people still missing, international organizations are now bracing for a significant rise in the death toll.