Venezuela Resumes Deportation Flights from U.S. After New Agreement
Venezuela has agreed to once again accept repatriation flights from the United States, bringing back Venezuelan nationals who were deported. This move follows a new agreement between both countries, announced by a senior Venezuelan official on Saturday.
The first repatriation flight under this new deal landed in Venezuela on Sunday, carrying 199 Venezuelans, according to U.S. officials.
Why Venezuela Had Stopped Accepting Flights
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had earlier suspended all deportation flights on March 8. This happened right after the U.S. Treasury Department cancelled Chevron’s license to export Venezuelan oil. The flight ban was a direct response to that decision.
However, both governments have now come to an agreement. Jorge Rodríguez, head of Venezuela’s National Assembly and Maduro’s chief negotiator with the U.S., confirmed the deal through social media.
He said that the first repatriation flight would arrive on Sunday and that it was being done to protect the rights of Venezuelan migrants.
Migrants’ Rights and Controversial Deportations
Rodríguez stressed that migration is not a crime and said that Venezuela would work to bring back all its citizens who wish to return. He also criticised the deportation of hundreds of Venezuelans to El Salvador by the Trump administration. According to Rodríguez, these deportees were sent to a high-security prison, which he described as a violation of human rights.
He added that Venezuela would continue to fight for the release of its citizens held in El Salvador, calling them “kidnapped.”
Who Were on the Flight?
The U.S. government said the first flight back to Venezuela included 199 people. Among them were alleged members of a criminal gang known as Tren de Aragua. However, officials did not confirm how many people were actually part of the gang or how they were identified.
President Maduro also commented on the situation during a public event. He confirmed the resumption of deportation flights and criticised the Salvadoran government for holding Venezuelans.
He said President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador must ensure the well-being of the deported Venezuelans and eventually release them.
Controversial Use of 18th Century Law
Earlier this month, former President Donald Trump used a rarely-invoked law from 1798 called the Alien Enemies Act. This law allows the U.S. president to deport non-citizens during wartime. Trump used it to deport Venezuelans, claiming that many were gang members and calling Tren de Aragua an “invading force.”
But critics say there was little or no proof that these individuals were actually gang members or had committed any crimes. In fact, CBS News reported that at least one deportee — a 26-year-old Venezuelan barber — had no criminal record either in the U.S. or Venezuela.
A federal judge did temporarily block the deportations, but some flights were already in the air when the court order came.
Who Are Tren de Aragua?
Tren de Aragua is a gang that reportedly started in a Venezuelan prison. Over time, some of its members joined the large number of Venezuelans fleeing the country due to economic problems. The U.S. State Department has officially listed Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organisation.
Despite these claims, the Trump administration has not provided clear evidence that all or even most of the deported Venezuelans are connected to this gang.
Growing Number of Deportations
Deportations to Venezuela have sharply increased since Trump returned to office. In the past few weeks alone, around 350 Venezuelans were sent back.
This includes about 180 people who were held for over two weeks at the U.S. military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. U.S. officials claimed they were gang members, but again, no solid proof was made public.
The decision to resume repatriation flights shows a rare moment of cooperation between the U.S. and Venezuela, despite their ongoing political disagreements.
While both sides say the deal protects human rights, the controversy around the deported individuals — especially those without any criminal background — continues to raise serious questions. With more deportations expected, all eyes are on how both governments handle the issue going forward.