Assassin of Chilean Diplomat Orlando Letelier Faces Deportation 50 Years After Assassination

Fifty years ago, former Chilean diplomat Orlando Letelier was killed in a car bombing in Washington, D.C. This act also claimed the life of his colleague, Ronni Moffitt. The assassination occurred on September 20, 1976, targeting Letelier while he was in the United States as an outspoken critic of the Chilean dictatorship.

A statue commemorating Orlando Letelier now stands outside the Chilean ambassador’s residence in Washington. The monument serves as a poignant reminder of the tragic events on Embassy Row where the bombing took place.

Virgilio Paz Romero, a former refugee from communist Cuba, was implicated in the attack. On that day, Paz Romero is believed to have activated a remote-controlled bomb while the car carrying Letelier and Moffitt passed through Sheridan Circle. The explosion resulted in their deaths, out of the three passengers involved in the tragedy.

Now, half a century later, there is potential for one of the men involved in this heinous crime to face deportation. This development brings renewed attention to the case, highlighting the enduring impact of political violence and the quest for justice.