Latest news with #USBureauofWesternHemisphereAffairs
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US deportations to Venezuela resume after dispute
A flight carrying 199 Venezuelans deported from the US to their homeland has landed at Simón Bolívar airport near Caracas. US repatriation flights to Venezuela had ground to a halt weeks ago after the Trump administration revoked a licence allowing Venezuela to export some of its oil to the US despite sanctions. But on Saturday the two governments, which have no diplomatic relations, reached agreement on resuming the flights, as part of the Trump administration's plan to remove undocumented migrants. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro described the flights as a chance to "rescue and free migrants from prisons in the US" . As they disembarked from the plane early on Monday, some of the deportees raised their arms and waved. They had earlier been transferred from US state of Texas to Honduras, in Central America, from where they were flown by Venezuelan flag carrier Conviasa to Maiquetía, north of Caracas. The US Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs described them as "illegal aliens" who "had no basis to remain in the United States". The head of Venezuela's National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, on the other hand stressed on Saturday that migration was "not a crime". Venezuela had originally agreed to take in Venezuelan deportees from the US in a deal struck by Trump's special envoy, Richard Grenell, in Caracas in January. It was widely seen as a victory for Trump, who has made deporting undocumented migrants a priority. However, Maduro said on 8 March that the US administration's decision to revoke the licence of oil giant Chevron to operate in Venezuela had created "a little problem". "They damaged the line of communication we had opened, and I was interested in those lines of communication (...) because I wanted to bring home all the Venezuelans they have in custody they have unjustly persecuted," he said. A week later, the Trump administration deported 238 Venezuelans to a mega-prison in El Salvador, arguing that they were members of the Tren de Aragua criminal gang. It caused an outcry in Venezuela, where several relatives of those deported to El Salvador insisted their loved ones had no criminal connections. Read: 'It's him, it's him!' - Mother spots son deported from US in mega-prison footage The deportation of Venezuelans to El Salvador's feared Cecot prison was followed by a warning posted on X by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week that Venezuela would face "severe and escalating" sanctions if it refused to accept its citizens deported from the US. The following day, Maduro ordered his government to "step up the action needed to guarantee return flights for detained migrants". Venezuela to resume repatriation of migrants after deal with US What is the 1798 law that Trump used to deport migrants? Trump says judge in migrant deportations case is 'Grandstander'
BBC News
24-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
US deportation flights to Venezuela resume after spat
A flight carrying 199 Venezuelans deported from the US to their homeland has landed at Simón Bolívar airport near repatriation flights to Venezuela had ground to a halt weeks ago after the Trump administration revoked a licence allowing Venezuela to export some of its oil to the US despite on Saturday the two governments, which have no diplomatic relations, reached agreement on resuming the flights, as part of the Trump administration's plan to remove undocumented President Nicolás Maduro described the flights as a chance to "rescue and free migrants from prisons in the US" . As they disembarked from the plane early on Monday, some of the deportees raised their arms and had earlier been transferred from US state of Texas to Honduras, in Central America, from where they were flown by Venezuelan flag carrier Conviasa to Maiquetía, north of US Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs described them as "illegal aliens" who "had no basis to remain in the United States".The head of Venezuela's National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, on the other hand stressed on Saturday that migration was "not a crime".Venezuela had originally agreed to take in Venezuelan deportees from the US in a deal struck by Trump's special envoy, Richard Grenell, in Caracas in January. It was widely seen as a victory for Trump, who has made deporting undocumented migrants a priority. However, Maduro said on 8 March that the US administration's decision to revoke the licence of oil giant Chevron to operate in Venezuela had created "a little problem". "They damaged the line of communication we had opened, and I was interested in those lines of communication (...) because I wanted to bring home all the Venezuelans they have in custody they have unjustly persecuted," he said.A week later, the Trump administration deported 238 Venezuelans to a mega-prison in El Salvador, arguing that they were members of the Tren de Aragua criminal gang. It caused an outcry in Venezuela, where several relatives of those deported to El Salvador insisted their loved ones had no criminal 'It's him, it's him!' - Mother spots son deported from US in mega-prison footageThe deportation of Venezuelans to El Salvador's feared Cecot prison was followed by a warning posted on X by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week that Venezuela would face "severe and escalating" sanctions if it refused to accept its citizens deported from the following day, Maduro ordered his government to "step up the action needed to guarantee return flights for detained migrants".
CNN
24-03-2025
- Politics
- CNN
First deportation flight lands in Venezuela from US, after deal to resume repatriations
The first flight carrying Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States landed in Venezuela early Monday, after the two governments reached an agreement to resume repatriation flights. Nearly 200 deportees were on the plane, which landed at an airport just north of capital Caracas. Video of the arrival shows some deportees celebrating with their hands in the air as they walked down stairs on to the tarmac, where a heavy presence of security staff was stationed. Others made the sign of the cross as they disembarked. The US Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs said the flight departed from the US and stopped in Honduras, where a change of planes took place. 'Today, deportation flights of Venezuelan illegal aliens to their homeland resumed via Honduras,' the department wrote on X. 'These individuals had no legal basis to remain in the United States. We expect to see a consistent flow of deportation flights to Venezuela going forward. Thank you to Honduran President Castro and her government for partnering to combat illegal immigration.' Honduras's Secretary of Foreign Affairs said 199 citizens of Venezuelan origin were on the flight. The transfer took three and a half hours and occurred 'in an orderly and safe manner,' Enrique Reina said in a post on X. Following the transfer the 'Venezuelan-flagged vessel departed for the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,' said Reina. Repatriations to Venezuela had stalled over the Trump administration's decision in February to revoke a license allowing American oil company Chevron to carry out some operations in the South American country. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said at the time that the decision 'affected' the flights to Venezuela, prompting the Trump administration to threaten further sanctions on the South American country. The resumption of repatriation flights follows growing outrage in Venezuela over the US deporting 238 Venezuelans to El Salvador, who were then transferred to the notorious Cecot mega-prison. The US accused those migrants of being members of the Venezuelan criminal group Tren de Aragua, but some of their relatives told CNN that the deportees were not involved in any criminal activity. Venezuela's National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez Gómez announced the agreement to resume repatriations in a statement on Saturday, two weeks after Venezuela had effectively paused repatriation flights from the US. 'Migration is not a crime, and we will not rest until we achieve the return of all those who need it and until we rescue our brothers and sisters kidnapped in El Salvador,' Rodríguez said Saturday. CNN has contacted the US State Department and the Salvadoran presidency for comment on those remarks. Venezuela does not have diplomatic relations in the US. Flight tracking data suggests the deportees were transferred Sunday from a Texas charter flight – which landed at an airbase in Honduras that was previously used for migrant transfers – to a Caracas-bound plane. The White House hasn't commented on Sunday's deportation flight. Maduro on Wednesday ordered his government to increase the number of flights needed to repatriate Venezuelan migrants detained in the US.
Saudi Gazette
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
First deportation flight to arrive in Venezuela from US after agreement to resume repatriations
CARACAS — The first flight carrying Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States is on its way to Venezuela after the two governments reached an agreement Saturday to resume repatriation flights. The US Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs confirmed the flight departed from the US and stopped in Honduras, where a change of planes took place. 'Today, deportation flights of Venezuelan illegal aliens to their homeland resumed via Honduras,' the department wrote on X. 'These individuals had no legal basis to remain in the United States. We expect to see a consistent flow of deportation flights to Venezuela going forward. Thank you to Honduran President Castro and her government for partnering to combat illegal immigration.' Honduras's Secretary of Foreign Affairs said 199 citizens of Venezuelan origin were on the flight. The transfer took three and a half hours and occurred 'in an orderly and safe manner,' Enrique Reina said in a post on X. Following the transfer the 'Venezuelan-flagged vessel departed for the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,' said Reina. It is expected to land at an airfield near Caracas in the coming to Venezuela had stalled over the Trump administration's decision in February to revoke a license allowing American oil company Chevron to carry out some operations in the South American President Nicolás Maduro said at the time that the decision 'affected' the flights to Venezuela, prompting the Trump administration to threaten further sanctions on the South American resumption of repatriation flights follows growing outrage in Venezuela over the US deporting 238 Venezuelans to El Salvador, who were then transferred to the notorious Cecot US accused those migrants of being members of the Venezuelan criminal group Tren de Aragua, but some of their relatives told CNN that the deportees were not involved in any criminal National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez Gómez announced the agreement to resume repatriations in a statement on Saturday, two weeks after Venezuela had effectively paused repatriation flights from the US.'Migration is not a crime, and we will not rest until we achieve the return of all those who need it and until we rescue our brothers and sisters kidnapped in El Salvador,' Rodríguez said has contacted the US State Department and the Salvadoran presidency for comment on those does not have diplomatic relations in the US. Flight tracking data suggests the deportees were transferred Sunday from a Texas charter flight – which landed at an airbase in Honduras that was previously used for migrant transfers – to a Caracas-bound White House hasn't commented on Sunday's deportation on Wednesday ordered his government to increase the number of flights needed to repatriate Venezuelan migrants detained in the US. — CNN
CNN
24-03-2025
- Politics
- CNN
First deportation flight to land in Venezuela from US, after deal to resume repatriations
The first flight carrying Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States is on its way to Venezuela, after the two governments reached an agreement Saturday to resume repatriation flights. The US Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs confirmed the flight departed from the US and stopped in Honduras, where a change of planes took place. 'Today, deportation flights of Venezuelan illegal aliens to their homeland resumed via Honduras,' the department wrote on X. 'These individuals had no legal basis to remain in the United States. We expect to see a consistent flow of deportation flights to Venezuela going forward. Thank you to Honduran President Castro and her government for partnering to combat illegal immigration.' Honduras's Secretary of Foreign Affairs said 199 citizens of Venezuelan origin were on the flight. The transfer took three and a half hours and occurred 'in an orderly and safe manner,' Enrique Reina said in a post on X. Following the transfer the 'Venezuelan-flagged vessel departed for the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,' said Reina. It is expected to land at an airfield near Caracas in the coming hours. Repatriations to Venezuela had stalled over the Trump administration's decision in February to revoke a license allowing American oil company Chevron to carry out some operations in the South American country. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said at the time that the decision 'affected' the flights to Venezuela, prompting the Trump administration to threaten further sanctions on the South American country. The resumption of repatriation flights follows growing outrage in Venezuela over the US deporting 238 Venezuelans to El Salvador, who were then transferred to the notorious Cecot mega-prison. The US accused those migrants of being members of the Venezuelan criminal group Tren de Aragua, but some of their relatives told CNN that the deportees were not involved in any criminal activity. Venezuela's National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez Gómez announced the agreement to resume repatriations in a statement on Saturday, two weeks after Venezuela had effectively paused repatriation flights from the US. 'Migration is not a crime, and we will not rest until we achieve the return of all those who need it and until we rescue our brothers and sisters kidnapped in El Salvador,' Rodríguez said Saturday. CNN has contacted the US State Department and the Salvadoran presidency for comment on those remarks. Venezuela does not have diplomatic relations in the US. Flight tracking data suggests the deportees were transferred Sunday from a Texas charter flight – which landed at an airbase in Honduras that was previously used for migrant transfers – to a Caracas-bound plane. The White House hasn't commented on Sunday's deportation flight. Maduro on Wednesday ordered his government to increase the number of flights needed to repatriate Venezuelan migrants detained in the US.
