US deportation flights to Venezuela resume

Deportation flights to Venezuela resumed on Sunday after a weeks-long standoff between the Trump administration and the Venezuelan government, signaling a deal had been reached between the two countries. A flight carrying 199 illegal aliens – including members of the violent Tren de Aragua (TDA) gang – to Venezuela landed Sunday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed.

The Trump administration had been working to strike a deal with the Venezuelan government to accept flights carrying deportees from the United States. However, President Nicolas Maduro had halted the flights earlier this month, leading to only four flights being received by the Venezuelan government since Trump took office.

Maduro’s decision to halt the flights came after Trump announced the termination of the Biden-era permit allowing Chevron to export Venezuelan oil, which was a major revenue source for the country. This move strained relations between the two countries, but Venezuelan officials confirmed that a deal had been reached on Saturday.

Jorge Rodríguez, the president of Venezuela’s Assembly and chief negotiator with the U.S., stated in a press release that they had agreed to resume the repatriation of Venezuelan migrants. Flight-tracking data showed a plane operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) departing El Paso and landing at Soto Cano air base in Honduras. A second plane operated by Venezuelan state airline Conviasa was scheduled to land at the air base for a handoff between officials.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio had warned Venezuela of severe sanctions if they continued to refuse accepting deported citizens. He stated that Venezuela was obligated to accept its repatriated citizens and that failure to do so would result in escalating sanctions.

In recent weeks, approximately 350 migrants have been deported to Venezuela, including individuals who had been detained at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Last week, over 200 Venezuelan migrants were flown to a high-security prison in El Salvador, despite a federal judge’s temporary block on the deportations.

President Maduro denounced the flights, referring to the Venezuelans being detained in El Salvador as “kidnapped.” He called for the return of all Venezuelans who require it and the rescue of those detained in El Salvador.

Senator Rubio thanked President Bukele of El Salvador for accepting the migrants, highlighting Venezuela’s refusal to take responsibility for its citizens. He expressed gratitude for Bukele’s willingness to assist in housing the migrants.

Deportation flights to Venezuela have resumed, signaling a potential improvement in relations between the two countries. The agreement to repatriate Venezuelan migrants demonstrates a step towards resolving the ongoing standoff.