In a potential sign of improving diplomatic relations, two Venezuelan planes departed for the United States on Monday and returned with deported Venezuelans. This development is seen as a triumph for President Donald Trump, who has pushed for countries to repatriate their nationals. Both U.S. and Venezuelan officials confirmed the flights operated by Conviasa, though they did not disclose passenger numbers or flight paths.
The White House announced the resumption of “Flights of Illegal Aliens to Venezuela” on social media platform X, crediting Richard Grennell, a top adviser to Trump, for overseeing the operation. This marks the resumption of deportation flights to Venezuela, previously stalled for years but briefly restarted under the Biden administration in October 2023 when approximately 130 Venezuelans were flown back. Since 2021, Venezuelans have been among the largest groups entering the U.S. illegally via the Mexican border.
In a related legal matter, a federal judge in New Mexico preemptively blocked the transfer of three Venezuelan men to Guantanamo Bay on Sunday. Defense attorneys argued their clients were unjustly charged with gang affiliations and fit the profile for detention under the administration’s policies.
Following Richard Grennell’s recent visit to Venezuela, Trump announced that the Venezuelan government, led by Nicolás Maduro, had agreed to accept deported nationals, including alleged gang members from the Tren de Aragua, and cover their transportation costs. Concurrently, six Americans held in Venezuela were released.
The Venezuelan government did not provide further details or comment on potential future flights in their Monday statement. As U.S.-Venezuelan relations remain complex, this development could signify a shift toward resolving long-standing tensions.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/news-today/venezuela-sends-2-planes-to-us-to-return-migrants-signaling-potential-improvement-in-relations-9828978/
Category : News Today
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-02-11 05:38:00
