A family that chose to self-deport from Minnesota to Ecuador has been connected to deaths following the family’s return to South America. Jorge Angamarca and his family had come to the United States seeking asylum, citing extortion threats and kidnapping concerns for their daughter in their home country. According to CBS Minnesota, the family made the decision to leave the U.S. and return to Ecuador.
According to reporting from the New York Post, an American man identified as Andrew Widme, age 42 and originally from North Dakota who grew up in Minnesota, moved to Venezuela in February after his wife was deported from the United States. The reporting indicates his body was found in rubble, apparently in connection with a Venezuelan earthquake. The sources differ in geographic location—one referencing Ecuador and the other Venezuela—and the family relationships involved are not fully clear across the available reporting.
The story reflects broader issues surrounding immigration enforcement, asylum seekers, and the challenges families face when deciding whether to remain in or leave the United States.
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