More than a million Venezuelans living in the United States are grappling with the aftermath of powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela in June, causing widespread devastation and loss of life. The disaster unfolded from afar for the diaspora, many of whom were already displaced by Venezuela's ongoing economic and political crises.
The back-to-back earthquakes on June 24 killed more than 6,500 people, left an unknown number missing, and damaged thousands of buildings in north-central Venezuela. For those in the U.S., the events triggered feelings of survivor's guilt, anger toward Venezuelan authorities, and a profound sense of powerlessness.
Kelly Granado Montano, who lives in Los Angeles, spent weeks in anguish after her parents went missing under the rubble of their apartment building. "The desperation, the pain, and the anguish grew — from not knowing" their fate, she said. Her parents, Marina, 66, and Jesús, 80, were in the underground parking of their 10-story building in La Guaira when it collapsed. Granado Montano, unable to travel to Venezuela, fundraised for search efforts and used social media to plead for assistance. Her restaurant in Los Angeles became a relief hub, collecting donations for shipment to Venezuela. Fifty-seven days after the earthquake, her parents' remains were found together in their vehicle.
Dariela Merchan, an emergency room nurse in Austin, Texas, longed to help on the ground but was hindered by an expired Venezuelan passport, a common issue since Venezuelan consulates in the U.S. closed. She focused on supporting overwhelmed medical workers in Venezuela, whose healthcare system was already fragile. Merchan leveraged her significant social media following to connect healthcare workers with telehealth platforms and solicit donations. She organized the shipment of supplies, including scrubs and electrolyte powder, to a nonprofit in the hard-hit state of La Guaira, covering part of the shipping costs herself.
Alejandro Marquina, 22, a student in South Florida, lost five family members in the earthquakes, including his aunt Yolanda, whose congratulatory message he discovered too late. The earthquakes compounded the difficulties his family had already faced fleeing oppression and seeking better opportunities in the U.S. in 2015. Marquina struggled with survivor's guilt and fear, which led him to seek therapy. He also channeled his energy into raising awareness and collecting donations for survivors.
Diana Ramos, in Tucson, Arizona, experienced relief when her parents and grandmother were found safe, though their home sustained minor damage. She focused her efforts on supporting her former elementary school in Guatire, which was badly damaged, raising funds for its repair. Weeks later, her sister in Cali, Colombia, faced income loss as both her workplaces were damaged by another significant earthquake there.
The experiences of these individuals are compounded by uncertainty regarding U.S. immigration policies. The Trump administration has been tightening policies, ending programs that allowed over 700,000 Venezuelans to live and work legally in the U.S. This policy tightening adds another layer of stress for a diaspora that has doubled in size between 2019 and 2024, largely due to economic hardship in Venezuela.
Despite the dual challenges, many in the Venezuelan diaspora feel a responsibility to continue highlighting the needs of their home country. "People think we are fine, but we are not," Merchan stated, emphasizing the ongoing struggles faced by those affected by the earthquakes and the long-standing crises in Venezuela.