A group of 199 Venezuelan migrants returned home after an agreement was reached to resume deportation flights. Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello made the announcement.
Recently, tensions escalated as the United States accused Venezuela of refusing to accept deportation flights, while Venezuela claimed that Washington was obstructing them. Amid this situation, a plane carrying deported Venezuelans arrived from a country that has consented to accept migrants sent by the United States.
Cabello stated that the inconsistency of the flights is not due to Venezuela, emphasizing that their operation would "depend on the United States." The returnees were transported by the Venezuelan state airline Conviasa, arriving in Caracas at 1 a.m. local time. The U.S. does not directly deport migrants to Venezuela due to their strained diplomatic relations.
The U.S. State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs expressed optimism about a steady flow of deportation flights to Venezuela in a post on X, confirming the recent flight.
This diplomatic conflict coincides with an initiative from U.S. President Biden to expedite the deportation of individuals identified by the White House as members of a terrorist group that Washington has classified as an alien enemy. Despite legal challenges, the Trump administration had deported over 200 Venezuelans, 137 of whom were sent to El Salvador, where they are currently detained in a significant anti-terrorism prison.
Venezuela refutes claims that the deported migrants are linked to the criminal group, which the government argues has been dismantled. Lawyers and family members of the migrants also deny the allegations of gang involvement, asserting that some may have been deported under circumstances implying such affiliations.
Cabello further stated that the Venezuelans detained in El Salvador were being "held hostage" and called for respect for their rights.