Article: A Venezuelan Colonel Turned Actor is Deported From Florida — The New York Times
Rafael Quero Silva deported to Venezuela while victims continue their pursuit of justice
A new report by The New York Times examines the case of Rafael José Quero Silva, a former lieutenant colonel in Venezuela’s National Guard accused by victims of torture and other serious human rights abuses during the repression of anti-government protests in 2013 and 2014.
After leaving Venezuela, Quero Silva built a new life in South Florida, where he was eventually identified by Venezuelan survivors after appearing as an extra in a television series.
Five victims later brought a federal civil lawsuit against him in Florida under the Torture Victim Protection Act, represented by Guernica 37 alongside U.S. counsel, seeking accountability for the abuses they say they suffered under his command.
But on August 18, U.S. immigration authorities deported Quero Silva to Venezuela, removing him from the country while the civil proceedings remained ongoing.
For the survivors, the deportation represents another obstacle in a pursuit of justice that has already lasted more than a decade. Their case nevertheless continues.
As Almudena Bernabeu, who represents the plaintiffs, told The New York Times, ensuring that their stories are heard remains essential.
Read the full report:
