First Deportation Flight from US to Venezuela Resumes After Agreement

The first deportation flight from the United States to Venezuela has commenced after an agreement was made to resume such operations. This flight, which includes 199 Venezuelan migrants, highlights a renewed focus on repatriation efforts amid previous tensions. Venezuelan officials expressed commitment to ensuring the return of those detained abroad, which reflects the evolving nature of immigration policies.

The inaugural deportation flight transporting Venezuelan migrants from the United States to Venezuela is en route, following an agreement reached between the two governments to resume such repatriation flights. The US Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs confirmed that the flight departed from the United States and made a stopover in Honduras for a change of aircraft.

The deportation was confirmed by a post on X, stating, “Today, deportation flights of Venezuelan illegal aliens to their homeland resumed via Honduras.” The US authorities emphasized that the individuals aboard the flight lacked legal grounds to remain in the country and indicated a regular flow of deportation flights would follow.

According to Honduran Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Reina, 199 Venezuelan citizens were on the flight, which transferred in an orderly and safe manner. The vessel is expected to arrive at an airstrip near Caracas soon after its departure.

The pause in repatriation flights to Venezuela stemmed from a policy decision by the Trump administration to revoke Chevron’s operational license in the country, affecting flight agreements. Nicolás Maduro highlighted that this decision impacted the flight operations, while the administration also threatened additional sanctions.

The resumption of flights follows a backlash from Venezuelans concerning the deportation of Venezuelan nationals to El Salvador, particularly those accused of ties to criminal organizations without substantiated evidence, as presented by their families. Jorge Rodríguez Gómez, President of Venezuela’s National Assembly, stated that migration is not criminal and vowed efforts to facilitate the repatriation of all those detained in El Salvador.

CNN has reached out to the US State Department for further comments regarding the repatriation. Furthermore, there are no diplomatic relations between the US and Venezuela, complicating matters related to deportations. Recent flight tracking data indicated that detainees were transferred from Texas to Honduras before continuing to Venezuela. Furthermore, Maduro has ordered an increase in flights for the repatriation of Venezuelan migrants currently held in the United States.

The recent agreement between the United States and Venezuela to resume repatriation flights marks a significant step in addressing the complex issues surrounding deportations. The initiative responds to both legal and humanitarian concerns, highlighting the changing dynamics in US-Venezuelan relations, especially in the context of Venezuelan citizens in the US. Ongoing developments will be crucial in evaluating the long-term implications for impacted families and the broader immigration landscape.

Original Source: www.cnn.com