Venezuela signals improved relations by accepting deported migrants from the US
- Two planes from Venezuela carried deported citizens from the US back to Venezuela, landing in La Guaira on February 10, 2025.
- The repatriation flights followed an agreement between the Trump administration and President Nicolas Maduro's government.
- This development suggests a potential improvement in diplomatic relations and aims to address the issue of illegal immigration.
Venezuela is taking steps to facilitate the return of its citizens deported from the United States, marking a significant development in the strained relations between the two countries. On February 10, 2025, two planes operated by Venezuelan airline Conviasa arrived at La Guaira airport, bringing with them 190 migrants from the US. This operation was part of a broader agreement between the Trump administration and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, which aimed to repatriate Venezuelans who had entered the US illegally. According to US officials, Richard Grenell, a key adviser to Trump, oversaw the repatriation process, which has been a contentious issue for years due to the political climate surrounding immigration and diplomatic ties between the two nations. The US-Venezuela relationship has been fraught with tension largely due to political differences, particularly regarding the leadership of Maduro and the handling of issues such as human rights and governance. In recent months, however, there appear to be changing dynamics which led to a resumption of deportation flights after a significant hiatus. In October 2023, a brief resumption of similar flights occurred under the Biden administration but was short-lived. The Venezuelan government has expressed concern over the portrayal of its citizens in the context of criminal activities, specifically in relation to the Tren de Aragua gang. Their statement emphasized that most Venezuelans are hardworking individuals and sought to counter what they consider to be a stigmatizing narrative created by US authorities. In addition to deportations, negotiations and agreements are reportedly being formed with other Central American nations, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been involved in discussions to manage immigration more broadly across the region. The flights on February 10 came shortly after reports about agreements with El Salvador and Guatemala to handle non-citizen migrants, indicating an intensifying focus on regional cooperation to manage migration flows. As these developments unfold, the broader implications for US-Venezuela relations and its influence on migration issues continue to be of significant interest and concern.