After weeks of uncertainty, the United States has resumed deportation flights to Venezuela. This comes after a deal was reached between the two nations, following a standoff that had halted deportations for weeks.
On Sunday, a flight carrying 199 Venezuelans, including members of the Tren de Aragua (TDA) gang, landed in Venezuela, as confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The U.S. had been pushing to continue deportations, but Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had blocked the flights earlier this month. Since then, only four deportation flights had taken place.
However, a breakthrough agreement has now paved the way for flights to resume, marking a significant shift in U.S.-Venezuela relations.
Why Were Deportation Flights Stopped?
Maduro had initially refused to accept deportees after the U.S. revoked a Biden-era permit that allowed Chevron to export Venezuelan oil. This move cut off a key revenue source for Venezuela, prompting Maduro to push back against U.S. immigration policies.
Despite this tension, Venezuela’s government announced on Saturday that it had reached a deal with the U.S. to allow deportation flights to resume. Jorge Rodríguez, Venezuela’s chief negotiator, confirmed the agreement, stating that the repatriation process aligns with Venezuela’s “Return to the Homeland Plan.”
How Are These Deportations Taking Place?
Flight data revealed that an ICE-operated plane left El Paso and landed at Soto Cano air base in Honduras on Sunday. Soon after, a Venezuelan airline took custody of the deportees and transported them back to Venezuela. This process suggests a coordinated effort between U.S. and Venezuelan officials.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had warned that Venezuela would face “severe and escalating sanctions” if it refused to take back deported citizens. He stated that the acceptance of deportees was “not an issue for debate or negotiation.”
More Deportations on the Way?
So far, approximately 350 Venezuelan migrants have been deported in recent weeks. This includes 180 people previously detained at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Last week, the U.S. also deported over 200 Venezuelans to a high-security prison in El Salvador in cooperation with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. This move faced legal challenges, with a federal judge temporarily blocking the deportations, but the U.S. proceeded regardless.
Maduro has condemned these deportations, referring to Venezuelan detainees in El Salvador as “kidnapped.” Venezuela has vowed to continue fighting for the rights of its citizens abroad.
What’s Next?
With deportation flights now back on track, it remains to be seen how long this agreement will hold. The political tension between the U.S. and Venezuela is still high, and any future policy changes could disrupt the fragile arrangement.
