Maduro regime to start accepting deportations from US
Venezuela has decided to resume accepting deportation flights from the United States after President Nicholas Maduro suspended the flights earlier this month. Jorge Rodríguez, the president of Venezuela’s Assembly and chief negotiator with the U.S., made the announcement on Saturday. He stated that an agreement had been reached with the U.S. government to begin repatriating Venezuelan migrants, with the first flight scheduled for the following day.
Rodríguez emphasized that the agreement with the U.S. ensured the safe return of Venezuelan migrants to their homeland while protecting their human rights. He specifically mentioned the deportation of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, including members of the Tren de Aragua gang who had been sent to the country by President Donald Trump’s administration. Rodríguez expressed a commitment to bringing back all Venezuelans in need of repatriation and rescuing those who were detained in El Salvador.
President Maduro also referred to the Venezuelans held in El Salvador as “kidnapped” and expressed a desire to ensure their safe return. In recent weeks, around 350 people were deported to Venezuela, with some spending up to 16 days at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The Trump administration identified these individuals as members of the Tren de Aragua gang.
Venezuela’s decision to resume accepting deportation flights marks a shift in the relationship between the two countries. The South American nation was once a friendly oil-trading partner of the U.S. until Maduro’s leftist regime came into power. The foreign policy challenges that arose under Maduro’s rule strained the diplomatic ties between the two nations.
The agreement to resume deportation flights signifies a step towards addressing the issue of Venezuelan migrants and ensuring their safe return home. The move also reflects a willingness on both sides to cooperate on matters of migration and human rights. As Venezuela prepares to welcome back its citizens, the international community will be watching to see how this development impacts the ongoing relationship between the U.S. and Venezuela.
