Venezuela Resumes Deportation Flights From United States \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Venezuela has agreed to resume accepting deportation flights from the United States following a diplomatic agreement. President Nicolás Maduro confirmed the decision, emphasizing human rights and calling out El Salvador’s treatment of deported Venezuelans. Tensions remain high as deportations increase under President Donald Trump’s administration, targeting alleged gang members.
Venezuela Resumes Deportation Flights From U.S.: Quick Looks
- Venezuela will resume accepting deportation flights from the U.S. starting Sunday.
- The agreement follows a pause after Chevron’s license withdrawal on March 8.
- Jorge Rodríguez confirmed the deal to ensure safe repatriation of Venezuelan nationals.
- Maduro accused El Salvador of detaining Venezuelans without justification.
- President Trump deported around 250 Venezuelans to a high-security prison in El Salvador.
- Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act, citing alleged ties to the Tren de Aragua gang.
- No concrete evidence was presented linking deportees to criminal activity.
- Recent weeks saw 350 deportations to Venezuela, some held at Guantanamo Bay.
- Venezuela emphasizes migrant human rights and demands deportees’ safe return.
- Deportation activity has sharply increased since Trump took office in January.
Deep Look
Venezuela will once again begin accepting deportation flights from the United States after both governments reached a new diplomatic agreement, Venezuelan officials confirmed on Saturday. This decision follows weeks of mounting tensions, triggered by a suspension of repatriation flights after the U.S. Treasury Department withdrew oil export licenses for Chevron on March 8.
Jorge Rodríguez, the president of Venezuela’s National Assembly and Nicolás Maduro’s chief negotiator with the United States, announced the agreement via social media. “We have agreed with the U.S. government to resume the repatriation of Venezuelan migrants, with the first flight scheduled for tomorrow,” Rodríguez stated. He added that the agreement aims to ensure “the return of our compatriots to their homeland with the guarantee of their Human Rights.”
Deportation Tensions and Accusations Against El Salvador
Rodríguez also condemned recent deportations orchestrated by the Trump administration, particularly the transfer of approximately 250 Venezuelans to a high-security prison in El Salvador. In his statement, he accused El Salvador of “kidnapping” Venezuelan migrants and called on the country’s president, Nayib Bukele, to ensure the well-being of those detained.
“Migrating is not a crime,” Rodríguez declared. “We will not rest until we achieve the return of all those who require it and until we rescue our brothers kidnapped in El Salvador.”
Maduro echoed Rodríguez’s sentiments during a public address, reaffirming Venezuela’s commitment to repatriate deported citizens. “We are resuming flights to rescue and release migrants from U.S. prisons,” Maduro declared. He directly addressed President Bukele, demanding that El Salvador guarantee the health and safety of the Venezuelan deportees and stating that they must be released “sooner rather than later.”
Trump Administration’s Crackdown and Controversy
The latest round of deportations comes as part of a broader crackdown on immigration by President Donald Trump’s administration. The Trump administration has increasingly targeted Venezuelan nationals, claiming that many deportees are members of the Tren de Aragua gang, a group originating in Venezuela’s prison system that has expanded into international criminal activity.
On March 15, Trump invoked the rarely used Alien Enemies Act of 1798, allowing for the deportation of non-citizens during wartime, labeling Tren de Aragua an “invading force.” Flights carrying deportees were already in the air when a federal judge issued a temporary order halting the deportations, highlighting the urgency and controversy surrounding the issue.
Despite these actions, Trump’s administration has provided little public evidence linking deportees to Tren de Aragua or any criminal offenses committed on U.S. soil. Venezuelan officials have strongly refuted these allegations, accusing the U.S. government of using gang accusations as a pretext for politically motivated mass deportations.
Tren de Aragua and the Migration Crisis
The Tren de Aragua gang, designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. Department of State, originated in Venezuela but has become more prominent amid the country’s ongoing economic collapse. As millions of Venezuelans have fled the country in search of stability, some members of criminal organizations are believed to have traveled alongside legitimate migrants.
However, the overwhelming majority of Venezuelan migrants are seeking better living conditions and safety for their families. Critics argue that the Trump administration is using exaggerated security concerns to justify harsh immigration policies.
Guantanamo Detention Raises Human Rights Concerns
In recent weeks, the Trump administration deported approximately 350 Venezuelans. Notably, around 180 of those individuals were held for up to 16 days at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The administration claims that those detained at Guantanamo are affiliated with Tren de Aragua, though officials have failed to present conclusive evidence to support these claims.
Human rights advocates have voiced alarm over the detention of migrants at military facilities, arguing that such actions violate international norms and further stigmatize vulnerable populations.
Political Maneuvering and Diplomatic Pressure
Maduro’s decision to suspend deportation flights earlier this month came in direct response to the U.S. Treasury’s move to revoke Chevron’s license to export Venezuelan oil. The suspension served as a diplomatic bargaining chip, but with Saturday’s announcement, both sides appear to have found temporary common ground.
Maduro’s government has traditionally resisted accepting deported Venezuelans from the United States. The new agreement represents a cautious reopening of cooperation, though underlying tensions remain high. In his public remarks, Maduro referred to the deportations as part of a broader “attack” on Venezuela and accused the Trump administration of using migration as a political tool.
Growing Pressure on El Salvador
Maduro also placed significant blame on El Salvador’s leadership, holding President Bukele responsible for the detained Venezuelans’ welfare. “You guarantee their health and, sooner rather than later, you will have to release them,” Maduro warned. His statements reflect broader frustration over regional cooperation regarding migration issues.
El Salvador has not responded publicly to Maduro’s accusations, but the growing tension between the two countries adds another layer to an already complex geopolitical situation.
What Happens Next?
As repatriation flights resume, questions remain about how the deportees will be received in Venezuela and whether they will face additional scrutiny or detention upon arrival. The Venezuelan government has pledged to treat returnees with dignity and ensure their human rights are protected. However, with increasing diplomatic strain and ongoing allegations of political targeting, the future for many deported Venezuelans remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, international observers are monitoring the situation closely, as human rights organizations urge both the U.S. and Venezuela to comply with humanitarian standards and ensure due process for all deported individuals.
The Trump administration continues to defend its aggressive stance, arguing that deporting alleged gang members is critical to national security. Venezuelan officials, on the other hand, continue to denounce the deportations as unfounded and politically motivated.
As tensions simmer, deportation flights will resume — but the controversy surrounding them is far from over.
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