In a significant development, the first repatriation flight transporting 199 Venezuelan migrants from the United States arrived in Maiquetía on Monday. This flight marks the resumption of deportation operations between the US and Venezuela following a recent diplomatic agreement.
The arrival was confirmed by Diosdado Cabello, Venezuela’s Interior Minister, during an interview on state-run television. He stated, “199 compatriots, 199 Venezuelan colleagues returning to their homeland,” highlighting the importance of the event for the returning migrants.
Details of the repatriation agreement
The flight originated from Honduras, where the deported individuals had been temporarily located. This resumption comes after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro previously halted flights due to escalating tensions with the US government, particularly following President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw Chevron’s license for exporting Venezuelan oil.
Amid these tensions, Maduro expressed that the US’s actions had significantly impacted the repatriation process. In response to this standstill, members of the Trump administration indicated that further sanctions could be imposed on Venezuela, raising the stakes in this diplomatic standoff.
“We have agreed with the US government to resume the repatriation of Venezuelan migrants with an initial flight tomorrow,” announced Jorge Rodríguez, the president of Venezuela’s Assembly, on social media.
Rodríguez’s statement also touched on the contentious deportation of approximately 250 Venezuelans to a high-security prison in El Salvador, an action that has drawn the ire of the Venezuelan government. Trump has alleged, without providing substantiating evidence, that some of these deportees are affiliated with the Tren de Aragua gang, which the US has designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
Calls for the well-being of deported migrants
In a passionate plea, Rodríguez asserted, “Migrating is not a crime and 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.” His remarks emphasize the ongoing struggles faced by Venezuelans in their quest for safety and stability abroad.
Furthermore, Maduro placed responsibility on El Salvador’s President, Nayib Bukele, regarding the safety and health of the Venezuelan migrants deported to his country. He urged Bukele to ensure their release, stating, “You guarantee their health and, sooner rather than later, you have to hand them over and release them, because they are kidnapped.”
This renewed cooperation between the US and Venezuela could indicate a potential thawing in relations, albeit amidst complex and challenging political dynamics.