First Deportation Flight Arrives in Venezuela from the U.S. After Agreement
The initial deportation flight carrying Venezuelan migrants from the U.S. has commenced following a bilateral agreement. The U.S. confirmed the flight’s progress through Honduras, and 199 Venezuelans were onboard. This resumption follows previous tensions regarding repatriations, with ongoing concerns about the treatment of deported individuals. Venezuelan President Maduro has called for increased repatriation operations.
The inaugural flight transporting Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States is en route to Venezuela, following a recent agreement between the two governments to recommence repatriation flights. The U.S. Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs confirmed the departure of the flight from the U.S., noting a stop in Honduras for a plane change before proceeding to Venezuela.
The U.S. Department stated, “Today, deportation flights of Venezuelan illegal aliens to their homeland resumed via Honduras.” The department expressed gratitude towards Honduran President Castro and her government for their collaboration in addressing illegal immigration. It is anticipated that a consistent schedule of deportation flights to Venezuela will follow.
Onboard the flight were 199 Venezuelan citizens, with Honduras’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs confirming the transfer’s smooth execution. The journey to Venezuela took three and a half hours, concluding with the flight departing for the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, expected to land near Caracas shortly.
Repatriation flights had been interrupted due to the Trump administration’s February decision to withdraw a license for Chevron’s operations in Venezuela. This action had repercussions on flight schedules, prompting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to express his discontent with the situation.
The renewed flights come amid rising tensions in Venezuela following the U.S. deportation of 238 Venezuelans to El Salvador, with concerns regarding their treatment after being accused of links to organized crime—a claim disputed by their families. Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez Gómez announced the recent agreement on repatriations, highlighting the commitment to returning all individuals in need of assistance.
Venezuela’s lack of diplomatic relations with the U.S. complicates these efforts, and flight tracking indicates that deportees were transferred from a Texas charter to a plane bound for Caracas in Honduras. The White House has yet to provide a statement regarding the latest flight, but President Maduro has directed a ramp-up of efforts to facilitate increased repatriation flights for Venezuelan migrants.
The resumption of deportation flights from the United States to Venezuela marks a significant development in immigration matters between the two nations, emphasizing the cooperation with Honduras. While these flights are a response to previous tensions, the implications of repatriation and treatment of deported individuals remain contentious. Continued dialogue and attention to the conditions affecting these migrants will be essential as further flights are anticipated.
Original Source: www.cnn.com
