This article discusses the resumption of deportation flights from the United States to Venezuela, which had been paused in March due to a dispute between the U.S. and Venezuela.
Venezuela had initially agreed to accept its nationals deported by the U.S. in February, but tensions arose when President Nicolás Maduro halted the flights in March. The suspension followed actions by the U.S. Treasury Department, which had suspended Chevron’s permission to export oil from Venezuela, angering the Venezuelan government.
In a recent televised address, Maduro announced that flights would resume, with the goal of “rescuing and freeing migrants from prisons in the United States.” He also emphasized that Venezuela was committed to protecting the human rights of its nationals.
A key part of the dispute involved the Trump administration’s handling of deportees, particularly those suspected of being part of the Tren de Aragua gang, a criminal group. The U.S. deported several individuals to El Salvador, where they were detained in a mega-prison. This action led to legal challenges, as a federal judge in Washington, DC attempted to block the deportation flights. Despite this, the flights proceeded, with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele commenting on the issue.
The situation highlights ongoing diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela, particularly around issues of migration and criminal deportations.