Historic Repatriation: First US Deportation Flight Arrives in Venezuela Under New Agreement | CNN

The first flight of Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States landed back home early on a Monday morning. This comes after both countries agreed to restart repatriation flights, which had been stalled for a while.

On board were nearly 200 individuals, who arrived at an airport just north of Caracas. Videos captured the mixed emotions as some deportees celebrated their return, while others appeared somber, making the sign of the cross as they stepped onto Venezuelan soil.

The U.S. Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs shared that the flight took off from the U.S., with a brief stop in Honduras to switch planes. They emphasized that those on board had no legal grounds to stay in the U.S. and projected a steady stream of such deportation flights moving forward.

Honduras’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs confirmed that 199 Venezuelans were on this first flight, and he noted that the transfer was conducted safely and orderly.

The resumption of flights came after a period of tension. Previously, repatriations were put on hold following the Trump administration’s decision to revoke a license for American oil company Chevron to operate in Venezuela, which Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro claimed impacted the flights.

The issue became more pronounced after the U.S. sent 238 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, where they reportedly ended up in a notorious prison. While the U.S. claimed these individuals were involved with a criminal group, families of the deported insisted that they had not committed any crimes.

Venezuelan officials have publicly denounced these actions. Jorge Rodríguez Gómez, head of the National Assembly, expressed that migration is not a crime and is committed to bringing back all Venezuelans who need assistance.

Curiously, Venezuelan-American relations remain strained, with no diplomatic ties. The latest flight reflects ongoing complexities as the two nations navigate their relationship amid rising global migration issues. According to recent statistics from the UN, Venezuela is one of the leading sources of refugees and migrants in Latin America, with over six million people having left the country since the crisis began.

Maduro has ordered an increase in repatriation flights for Venezuelans detained in the U.S. as part of the ongoing efforts to address his country’s migration challenges. Social media reactions have been mixed, with some celebrating the news as a win for those returning home, while others criticized the U.S. policies regarding deportation.

For more in-depth analysis on the changing landscape of immigration and deportation, you can check the latest updates from trusted sources like CNN.

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