Latest news with #Biden-maduro
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump administration secures release of US veteran held in Venezuela, family says
The family of a U.S. Air Force veteran who was wrongfully detained in Venezuela since November 2024, on Tuesday, said he was released. Joseph St. Clair, a four-tour Afghanistan War veteran from Hansville, Washington, first went missing in November while getting PTSD treatment in Colombia. "This news came suddenly, and we are still processing it—but we are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude," said Scott and Patti St. Clair, Joseph's parents. Venezuelan Oppo Leader Joins Cuban-born Gop Lawmaker Praising Trump For Canceling Biden-maduro Oil Deal The details surrounding St. Clair's release were not disclosed. The St. Clair family declined to comment further to Fox News Digital. The family also thanked President Donald Trump, as well as his administration, for securing St. Clair's release. Trump, Ambassador Ric Grenell, Adam Boehler and Sebastian Gorka, the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, had worked to secure Joseph's release. Read On The Fox News App Top Dem Denies Ignoring Constituent Abducted By Maduro After Being Lambasted For Abrego Garcia Advocacy "We remain in prayer and solidarity with the families of those who are still being held," the St. Clairs added. "We will never stop loving and supporting them as they continue their fight to be reunited with their loved ones." In February, St. Clair's father got a call from the Colombian consulate telling him neighboring Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro's regime had his son hostage. With the addition of St. Clair, at least 37 Americans have been released from hostage situations in six countries – Afghanistan, Belarus, Venezuela, Israel, Russia and Kuwait — since Trump took office. St. Clair is the seventh American to be released from Venezuela since January. Six others were released from the South American nation on Jan.31, 2025, after Grenell met with article source: Trump administration secures release of US veteran held in Venezuela, family says
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US deportation flights to Venezuela resume following weeks-long standoff
Deportation flights to Venezuela resumed on Sunday after a weeks-long standoff between the Trump administration and the Venezuelan government, signaling a deal had been reached between the two countries. A flight carrying 199 illegal aliens – including members of the violent Tren de Aragua (TDA) gang – to Venezuela landed Sunday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed to Fox News Digital. The Trump administration has vowed to strike a deal with the Venezuelan government to accept flights carrying deportees from the United States, but has been limited in the regularity of the transfers after President Nicholás Maduro halted the flights earlier this month – with only four flights being received by the Venezuelan government since Trump was sworn into office. Venezuela To Resume Accepting Us Deportation Flights Maduro refused to receive the flights after Trump announced that the U.S. would terminate the Biden-era permit allowing Chevron to export Venezuelan oil, effectively closing off a major revenue source for the country. However, Venezuelan officials have confirmed that a deal was reached on Saturday. Read On The Fox News App "Venezuela reports that, within the framework of the Return to the Homeland Plan and with the goal of returning our compatriots to their nation with the safeguarding of their human rights, we have agreed with the U.S. government to resume the repatriation of Venezuelan migrants with an initial flight tomorrow, Sunday, March 23," Jorge Rodríguez, the president of Venezuela's Assembly and chief negotiator with the U.S., said in a statement posted to X by the network Telesur. Flight-tracking data shows a plane operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) departed El Paso and was scheduled to land at Soto Cano air base in Honduras Sunday afternoon. A second plane operated by Venezuelan state airline Conviasa was set to land at the air base within an hour of ICE's arrival, seemingly for a handoff between officials. Wh May Reverse Decision To Kill Biden-maduro Oil Deal, Apply Tariffs Instead To Avoid Hurting Us Firms The deal comes after Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed that Venezuela would face "severe, and escalating sanctions" if the country continued to refuse to accept its citizens that had faced deportation. "Venezuela is obligated to accept its repatriated citizens from the U.S. This is not an issue for debate or negotiation," Rubio posted to X. "Nor does it merit any reward. Unless the Maduro regime accepts a consistent flow of deportation flights, without further excuses or delays, the U.S. will impose new, severe, and escalating sanctions." The Trump administration did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. In recent weeks, approximately 350 migrants have been deported to Venezuela, including roughly 180 individuals who had been detained at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Click Here For More Immigration Coverage Last week, the Trump administration flew over 200 Venezuelan migrants to a high-security prison in El Salvador in coordination with President Nayib Bukele, despite a federal judge's order temporarily blocking the deportations. "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," Rodríguez said. Madura also went on to denounce the flights, referring to the Venezuelans being detained in El Salvador as "kidnapped" on Saturday. In an interview with Fox News Radio, Rubio thanked Bukele for his country's acceptance of the migrants. "Venezuela should be taking them, but they refuse to take them," Rubio said. "And so, we are fortunate to have a friend like President Bukele who, as part of my meeting with him, said we will take them for a fraction of what it costs you guys to house them in your own prison system." Fox News Digital's Louis Casiano and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report. Original article source: US deportation flights to Venezuela resume following weeks-long standoff
