Deportation and Disaster: A Harrowing Return
For many Venezuelans who had established lives in the United States, their involuntary return to their home country was swiftly followed by an unforeseen and catastrophic event: a series of powerful earthquakes. This confluence of circumstances has left families on both sides of the border grappling with immense grief and uncertainty.
Abelardo Rincón's Story: A Life Interrupted
Abelardo Rincón, 23, had spent six years building a life in Georgia, working at a car dealership and awaiting the birth of his daughter. His journey in the US was cut short when he was detained during an immigration crackdown. After being held by American authorities, he was placed on a deportation flight to Venezuela with over 140 others. Upon landing on June 24th, and while still in custody, he contacted his family in Atlanta. He and the other deportees were housed in a coastal hotel. Just hours later, twin earthquakes struck, resulting in an estimated 2,200 fatalities, over 10,000 injuries, and 50,000 missing, according to UN figures. Rincón was among those missing, leaving his family to frantically search for news amidst the devastation.
Official Response and Family Despair
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees US immigration enforcement, issued a statement regarding the flight but provided no specific details on individual cases. A DHS spokesperson confirmed the flight's safe arrival and stated, "When an individual is no longer in ICE custody, ICE is no longer responsible for them." The reasons for the migrants' deportation, whether for illegal border crossings or other violations, remain unclear.
Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government has provided contact numbers for the public, but information has been limited due to the widespread disaster. The deported passengers, including 19 women and seven children, were accommodated at the Hotel Santuario La Llanada in La Guaira after medical examinations and documentation. This area was severely impacted, experiencing extensive damage and building collapses.
Jose Rincón, Abelardo's grandfather, tirelessly searched for his grandson, examining over 200 bodies, including at a morgue in Caracas. He was denied access to the destroyed hotel site by Venezuelan authorities, who reportedly told him there was "no life" there. "If we could just see what we need to see - if I could see the rubble, I'd be satisfied - but days have gone by and I still haven't found him, alive or dead... So what am I supposed to do?" Rincón expressed to the BBC.
Other Tragic Accounts
Darwin Eliecer Serrano Lopez, 35, called his cousin at 05:32 local time to announce his return after four years in the US. Less than half an hour later, the first earthquake hit. His cousin, Paola Chacón, described the family's desperate search, eventually resigning herself to the belief that Darwin had perished. "So many days have passed… we aren't getting any answers," she said, adding, "we are going to stay here until we can take [Darwin's body] home."
The family of Daniel Alejandro Nunez, 28, also faced conflicting reports after he called his mother upon his return. His stepfather, Jose Alejandro Abache, stated, "We've searched for him in hospitals, in morgues – everywhere."
Mildrey Sarazo, Darwin Serrano Lopez's wife, had not seen her husband in three years and had not yet informed their daughters, aged nine and 15, about the unfolding tragedy. She awaited proof and her husband's body, stating, "We want to bury our relatives. We want them to hand him over so we can identify him and be certain."
Miraculous Survival and Enduring Impact
Despite the widespread destruction, some passengers from Flight 164 miraculously survived. Lisbeth Portillo, 58, recounted being on the second floor of the hotel when it collapsed, stating, "I was born again - God gave me a second chance."
Anderson Daniel Salcedo, 22, who had lived in the US for three years, was found at Caracas's university hospital after spending nearly two days trapped under rubble. His legs had to be amputated. His grandmother, Marlene Lozano, shared the family's anguish: "He spent 40 hours in that hole, he didn't have an ID, they couldn't account for him because he had no documents... We know he won't be the same anymore - he's missing his legs - but we love him, just the way he is."
Source: Original Article
