The US has resumed deportation flights to Venezuela after a period of suspension related to diplomatic tensions over oil exports. The recent agreement has led to the arrival of 199 Venezuelans back in their home country, amidst contrasting views on migration legality by government officials.
US Resumes Deportations to Venezuela After Diplomatic Agreement
US Resumes Deportations to Venezuela After Diplomatic Agreement
A flight carrying 199 Venezuelan nationals deported from the US landed in Caracas following an agreement between the two nations.
A flight carrying 199 Venezuelans who were deported from the United States arrived at Simón Bolívar airport in Caracas early Monday morning. This event marks the resumption of repatriation flights to Venezuela, which had been stalled for several weeks due to disputes surrounding U.S. sanctions on Venezuelan oil exports.
The arrangement was reached just days after an agreement between the two nations, which, despite having no direct diplomatic relations, found common ground on this issue. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro characterized the flights as an opportunity to “rescue and free migrants from prisons in the US,” as individuals stepped off the plane, some expressing their relief by raising their arms. The deportees were previously transferred from Texas to Honduras before being flown back to Venezuela with the national airline Conviasa.
While the U.S. Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs defined these individuals as “illegal aliens” without justification for their stay in the U.S., Venezuelan officials, including the head of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, emphasized that migration should not be criminalized.
The repatriation deal was initially forged by Trump’s special envoy Richard Grenell in January, creating a channel for Venezuelan deportees. However, tensions were exacerbated when the Trump administration suspended a license that allowed oil company Chevron to operate in Venezuela, leading Maduro to voice his concerns regarding the future of communications between the two governments.
In a related incident, the U.S. recently deported 238 Venezuelans to a notorious prison in El Salvador over alleged affiliations with a criminal gang, evoking a strong backlash from families who claimed those sent back had no criminal ties. Following this, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued warnings of intensified sanctions against Venezuela if the country refused to accept its citizens being deported.
Maduro's subsequent directive to enhance efforts for the return of detained migrants indicates a shifting dynamic, suggesting that both governments recognize the complexities and political sensitivities surrounding migration.
