On February 10, Reuters reported that two planes carrying Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States in accordance with a recent agreement between the Trump administration and President Nicolas Maduro are en route to Venezuela, as announced by the South American country's government. The flights, operated by Venezuelan airline Conviasa, are part of a larger effort to repatriate migrants who left Venezuela due to "economic sanctions and campaigns of psychological warfare against the country," according to an official statement. The government disclosed that some passengers are suspected of having ties to the Tren de Aragua gang and will face thorough criminal investigations.
Following a meeting between Trump envoy Richard Grenell and Maduro on January 31 in Caracas, discussions encompassed migration, sanctions, and other important topics. Grenell departed Venezuela with individuals who had been in Venezuelan custody. The Trump administration has expressed a priority to deport members associated with Tren de Aragua from the U.S., with Trump stating that Maduro agreed to facilitate their return.
According to the Venezuelan government, the Tren de Aragua group was disbanded within the country's borders in 2023. Furthermore, the Trump administration has initiated efforts to deport approximately 348,000 Venezuelans from the U.S., potentially leading to work permit cancellations before deportations commence in April. Over the past few years, more than 7 million Venezuelan migrants have left their homeland amid profound economic and social turmoil, which the government attributes to sanctions imposed by the United States and other nations.
Despite Maduro and some of his associates facing drug trafficking charges in the U.S., and claims of fraudulence surrounding the July election granting Maduro his third term, the Venezuelan government remains adamant about the challenges it faces.