A new agreement between Venezuela and the United States brings significant changes to the ongoing migrant crisis at the southern border.
According to the New York Post, Venezuela has agreed to resume accepting repatriation flights carrying its deported nationals from the United States following a temporary suspension earlier this month.
The development comes after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro halted the flights on March 8, responding to the U.S. Treasury Department's decision to withdraw Chevron's license for Venezuelan oil exports. Jorge Rodríguez, Venezuela's Assembly president and chief negotiator with the U.S., announced that flights would restart immediately, with the first departure scheduled for Sunday.
The agreement arrives amid heightened tensions between the two nations, particularly regarding the treatment of Venezuelan deportees.
President Trump's administration has intensified deportation efforts since taking office on January 20, targeting what they claim are members of the Tren de Aragua gang.
Around 350 Venezuelans have been deported in recent weeks, with approximately 180 individuals detained at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for up to 16 days. The Trump administration maintains these individuals are gang members, though they have provided limited evidence to support these claims.
The U.S. Department of State has designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization, noting its origins in a Venezuelan prison and its expansion alongside the mass exodus of Venezuelan citizens seeking better living conditions.
Jorge Rodríguez specifically addressed the controversial deportation of about 250 Venezuelans to a high-security prison in El Salvador. He stated:
Migrating is not a crime and we will not rest until we achieve the return of all those who require it and until we rescue our brothers kidnapped in El Salvador
The deportations occurred under unusual circumstances, with Trump invoking the Alien Enemies Act, a rarely-used 1798 law permitting presidential deportation of non-citizens during wartime. Despite a federal judge's order temporarily halting the deportations, some flights had already departed.
President Trump's use of the Alien Enemies Act has faced significant scrutiny, particularly regarding the lack of evidence connecting deportees to criminal activities. The administration has yet to provide concrete proof that the deported individuals are members of Tren de Aragua or have committed crimes in the United States.
Venezuelan authorities emphasized their commitment to protecting deportees' human rights as part of the new agreement. The deal represents a shift in Maduro's previous stance of refusing entry to most immigrants deported from the U.S.
The implementation of these measures comes as both nations navigate complex diplomatic relations and address the broader implications of Venezuelan migration to the United States.
Venezuela and the United States have reached a critical agreement allowing the resumption of repatriation flights for deported Venezuelan nationals. The deal follows President Maduro's March 8 suspension of flights in response to U.S. sanctions against Chevron's Venezuelan oil operations. The agreement addresses immediate concerns about deportee treatment and establishes a framework for future cooperation, though questions remain about the status of Venezuelans currently detained in El Salvador and Guantanamo Bay.
