U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported former Venezuelan National Guard commander Rafael José Quero Silva to Venezuela on Aug. 19, removing a man accused by Venezuelan plaintiffs of overseeing the torture of anti-government demonstrators during the early years of Nicolás Maduro's rule.
ICE said Quero Silva, described by the agency as an undocumented immigrant with a criminal history and a known human rights violator, was flown to Venezuela after an immigration judge with the Department of Justice issued a final removal order. The operation was carried out by ICE Miami, Homeland Security Investigations Miami, and the agency's Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center.