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Venezuelan deportee dies in earthquake-collapsed hotel days after ICE deportation flight

Jun 24, 2026 · Caracas, VE, Venezuela

Venezuelan deportee dies in earthquake-collapsed hotel days after ICE deportation flight

Daniel Alejandro Núñez Ramírez, 28, had lived in the U.S. for four years after leaving Venezuela at age 20 and was residing in Jacksonville, Florida. He was detained by ICE during a traffic stop on May 10, 2026, and pressured to sign voluntary deportation papers. He was deported on Flight 164, which landed in Venezuela on June 24, 2026, and he was subsequently placed by Venezuelan authorities in a hotel used to house deportees. Hours after his arrival, an earthquake collapsed the hotel, killing him along with dozens of other deportees. His mother, Oswadeliz Núñez Ramírez, a lawyer, said she was not notified of his deportation until after he had already been handed over to Venezuelan intelligence services (Sebin). She recovered his body five days later at an improvised morgue, had him cremated, and later received only a box of his ashes after being unable to retrieve his belongings. The U.S. government said it bore no further responsibility once he left ICE custody.

Timeline

Jun 29, 2026Mother recovered his body at an improvised morgue and had him cremated
Jun 24, 2026Deported to Venezuela aboard Flight 164 and housed by Venezuelan authorities in a hotel for deportees; hotel collapsed in an earthquake hours later, killing him and dozens of others
May 10, 2026Detained by ICE during a traffic stop in Jacksonville, Florida, and pressured to sign voluntary deportation papers

Sources

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