Representative Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) leveled sharp criticism at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Wednesday, alleging the agency tried to deport families and children to Venezuela even as the country reels from a devastating series of earthquakes. In a Facebook post, Castro detailed that families detained at the Dilley Trailer Prison in Texas were roused from sleep and transported to Arizona for deportation to Venezuela—only to be returned to the facility after the plan fell through.
The lawmaker stressed that these individuals remain at risk of removal at any moment, despite Venezuela grappling with a full-blown humanitarian catastrophe. The twin quakes, which struck north-central Venezuela on June 24, have left an estimated 2,000 dead—a figure widely seen as a severe undercount—along with tens of thousands missing, roughly 1,000 buildings destroyed (including hospitals), and critical disruptions to water and electricity services.
“It is unthinkable to send children and families, who have committed no crimes, into a country plunged into chaos by natural disaster,” Castro wrote. He is now calling on the Trump administration to immediately halt all deportations to Venezuela and shut down the Dilley facility.
A Pattern of Cruelty
Castro also highlighted a tragic precedent: just hours before the earthquakes struck, 146 people—120 men, 19 women, and 7 children—were deported from the United States to Venezuela. Many of them were staying in a hotel that collapsed when the quakes hit. The exact death toll remains unclear, with reports ranging from 10 survivors pulled from the rubble to conflicting accounts of 12 to 32 people rescued.
“Last week, 146 men, women, and children were deported back home to Venezuela hours before the earthquakes—many are suspected to have been killed,” Castro wrote. He framed the actions as “cruel and un-American,” urging an immediate policy reversal.
The incident underscores growing tensions over immigration enforcement in the wake of natural disasters. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not yet responded to requests for comment, with ICE deferring questions to the parent agency.
Broader Context and Calls for Action
The revelations come as the U.S. military has deployed to Venezuela following the quakes, which have killed over 160 people according to official counts, though independent assessments suggest far higher numbers. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has offered relief aid, but Castro’s allegations raise questions about the coherence of U.S. policy—offering help with one hand while deporting vulnerable people into danger with the other.
This is not the first time the Dilley facility has been in the spotlight. Congress recently funded ICE detention for families, putting longstanding Flores protections at risk. Castro’s call to close the prison taps into a broader debate about the treatment of migrant families in custody.
As the political fallout spreads, Castro’s office is pressing for answers. “These actions are cruel and un-American,” he reiterated. The Texas Democrat’s demand for a halt to Venezuela deportations is likely to intensify scrutiny on DHS chief Mullin, who faces a House grilling over deportation turmoil and other controversies.
