US Resumes Sending Migrant Flights to Venezuela

Amid renewed diplomatic relations, the US has resumed deportation flights to Venezuela, a move with significant political and social ramifications.

Key Insights

199 Venezuelans were recently deported to Venezuela as part of a US-Venezuelan agreement.
The agreement comes after a halt related to US revocation of oil export licenses.
Deportees include individuals accused of being part of the Tren de Aragua gang.
The resolution followed pressure from US officials, including Marco Rubio, along with frustration from Venezuela over the US’s decision to send some migrants to El Salvador.

Diplomatic Re-engagement Amid Significant Tensions

The US government has reignited deportation efforts to Venezuela, with a flight carrying 199 Venezuelans landing at Simón Bolívar International Airport over the weekend. Many of these migrants have been accused of involvement with the gang Tren de Aragua. The move comes after Venezuela halted the flights earlier in March in response to President Donald Trump terminating Chevron’s license to export oil from Venezuela.

After Venezuela’s decision to halt the flights, the Trump administration ended up sending over 200 Venezuelan men to a prison in El Salvador. This drew backlash from Venezuela, with President Nicolás Maduro referring to the migrants as “kidnapped.”

Jorge Rodríguez, president of Venezuela’s Assembly, also pushed back on the decision, saying,

“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.”

US deportation flights to Venezuela resume following weeks-long standoff 🧵 pic.twitter.com/veOHt3jmen

— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 24, 2025

Diplomatic and Political Underpinnings

Before the agreement was made, Secretary of State Marco Rubio took to social media to warn Venezuela of “severe and escalating” sanctions should they refuse their repatriated citizens. “Venezuela is obligated to accept its repatriated citizens from the U.S. This is not an issue for debate or negotiation,” he said.

On Saturday, March 22, Venezuelan officials confirmed that a deal had been struck. They said that they had agreed to allow a flight to be sent to them the next day, “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.”

This resumption of deportation flights invites broader discourse on migration policy and international diplomacy in contemporary politics. Both nations have vested interests and conflicting ideologies bound to influence future interactions and prevailing resolutions between U.S.-Venezuela relations.