Full Breakdown
Venezuelan Diaspora Grapples with Aftermath of June 24 Earthquakes
9/9/2026, 8:53:49 PM
Deadly June 24 Earthquakes Shatter Venezuela
On June 24, powerful tremors struck north-central Venezuela, killing more than 6,500 people and damaging thousands of buildings. The disaster unfolded while many Venezuelans were abroad, intensifying the sense of helplessness among the estimated 1.2 million Venezuelans residing in the United States as of 2024.
Diaspora Response in the United States
In the weeks that followed, members of the diaspora organized fundraising, shipped supplies, and provided emotional support to relatives in the devastated regions. Their efforts unfolded against a backdrop of tightening U.S. immigration policies: the Trump administration announced the termination of programs that had permitted over 700,000 Venezuelans to live and work legally in the United States. Simultaneously, a bilateral oil-access deal granting the United States rights to roughly one-fifth of Venezuela’s reserves was signed.
Data & Statistics
- Deaths: > 6,500 (June 24 earthquakes)
- Venezuelan diaspora in the U.S.: 1.2 million (2024)
- Legal residency programs ending: > 700,000 Venezuelans
- Fundraising outcomes: $2,000 raised by Alejandro Marquina; $4,000 raised by Diana Ramos; donations used to ship medical supplies and repair an elementary school in Guatire.
Official Statements & Responses
President Donald Trump framed the oil-access agreement as a strategic step to secure energy interests while asserting a tougher stance on Venezuela’s domestic politics after the January U.S. military operation that removed former President Nicolás Maduro. The administration presented the immigration policy shift as a measure to enforce immigration law, though officials have not provided detailed justification for the abrupt termination of the work-permit programs.
On-the-Ground Reports
- Kelly Granado Montano, a 43-year-old restaurateur in Los Angeles, turned her eatery, Full Arepas, into a relief hub. After 57 days of searching, volunteers uncovered her parents’ remains inside a collapsed building in La Guaira.
- Alejandro Marquina, a 22-year-old journalism major in Doral, Florida, lost five relatives, experienced panic attacks, and raised $2,000 for relief.
- Diana Ramos, a 27-year-old former college athlete in Tucson, Arizona, raised $4,000 to repair an elementary school in Guatire.
- Dariela Merchan, a 28-year-old emergency-room nurse in Austin, Texas, could not return to Venezuela because her passport had expired after consulates closed. She organized shipments of scrubs and medical supplies to health workers in La Guaira.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I was just feeling like, ‘I’m here having fun, but my family is dying’,” — Alejandro Marquina
- “People think we are fine, but we are not,” — Dariela Merchan
- “They were together for 45 years and into eternity,” — Granado Montano
- “It just feels like I have my heart in two parts of two different countries,” — Diana Ramos
What's Next
The diaspora continues to coordinate aid through social-media campaigns, crowdfunding platforms, and partnerships with nonprofit groups. Ongoing fundraising and supply-shipping efforts suggest that support for Venezuelan communities will remain a priority for U.S.-based Venezuelans as the country recovers from the June 24 earthquakes.
