Venezuelan migrants deported by U.S. authorities arrive at Simon Bolivar International Airport in La Guaira, Venezuela.
Venezuela has announced the resumption of repatriation flights for its citizens deported by U.S. immigration authorities.
In a statement, Jorge Rodríguez, president of Venezuela’s National Assembly, confirmed that flights could begin as soon as Sunday, emphasizing that “migration is not a crime.”
Rodríguez, who has been in talks with U.S. officials regarding immigration policy, assured that Venezuelan authorities will tirelessly work to ensure the safe return of citizens in need.
The U.S. government has not yet responded to this development.
Rodríguez also referred to a recent incident involving the deportation of Venezuelans to El Salvador, which attracted public scrutiny after the invocation of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to target suspected members of a Venezuelan prison gang.
Specifically, 238 Venezuelans were deported during this operation, with the legality being questioned by a federal judge who sought transparency from the U.S. government regarding the actions taken.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has demanded the return of migrants sent to El Salvador, where reports suggest they have been placed in a notorious mega-prison.
Families affected by these deportations have contested claims linking their relatives to gang affiliations, while Maduro has accused the U.S. of kidnapping these individuals.
Venezuela had halted the acceptance of repatriation flights from the U.S. on March 8 after President Trump announced a cancellation of extraction permits for Chevron, a significant revenue source for the Venezuelan government.
Last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the Trump administration would impose “new, severe, and escalating sanctions” unless Venezuela resumed accepting migrants.
