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Rafael José Quero Silva deported to Venezuela by U.S. authorities
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported Rafael José Quero Silva to Venezuela on August 19, following a judicial order from an immigration judge. Quero Silva, a former colonel and commander of the 47th Detachment of the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) in Barquisimeto, was identified as a human rights violator.
Authorities allege that during the 2013 and 2014 anti-government protests in the state of Lara, Quero Silva supervised the torture of at least 74 peaceful protesters. Reported abuses included electric shocks, beatings with sticks and frozen water bottles, and threats of sexual violence. Five victims have also filed a civil lawsuit in U.S. federal court regarding these actions.
Quero Silva entered the United States in June 2016 on a B-2 tourist visa but remained in the country illegally. He was apprehended in Miramar, Florida, in February 2025 after members of the Venezuelan diaspora recognized him while he was working as an extra in a Telemundo telenovela, ‘Mi Familia Perfecta’. The deportation was a coordinated operation involving ICE Miami, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, and the Center for Human Rights Violators and War Crimes.
Entities
Barquisimeto · Bolivarian National Guard · Chicago · Department of Homeland Security · Florida · Julia Ramírez · Nicolás Maduro · Rafael José Quero Silva · Robinson Méndez Gutiérrez · U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 12 SOURCES] Quero Silva commanded the 47th Detachment of the Bolivarian National Guard in Barquisimeto. espiganoticias.net · notiapure.com.ve · alertas24.com · www.martinoticias.com · www.hispanospress.com · +7 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] ICE deported Rafael José Quero Silva to Venezuela on August 19. espiganoticias.net · notiapure.com.ve · rdnvenezuela.com · alertas24.com · contrapodernews.com · +10 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] Quero Silva was arrested in Miramar, Florida, on February 27, 2025. notiapure.com.ve · alertas24.com · contrapodernews.com · www.martinoticias.com · noticiasaldiayalahora.co · +4 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] Since 2003, ICE has deported 1,178 alleged human rights violators and war criminals. contrapodernews.com · www.el-carabobeno.com · elnuevodiario.com.do · eltiempove.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] The Venezuelan community identified Quero Silva while he was working as an extra in a Telemundo telenovela. notiapure.com.ve · alertas24.com · contrapodernews.com · lanacionweb.com · lapatilla.com
- [● 11 SOURCES] Quero Silva entered the U.S. in June 2016 on a B-2 tourist visa. notiapure.com.ve · rdnvenezuela.com · alertas24.com · contrapodernews.com · www.martinoticias.com · +6 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] Quero Silva supervised the torture of at least 74 peaceful protesters in 2013. alertas24.com · contrapodernews.com · www.martinoticias.com · www.el-carabobeno.com · elnuevodiario.com.do · +1 more