Venezuela to resume repatriation of migrants after deal with US

Venezuela is set to resume the repatriation of its citizens who have been living in the United States after reaching an agreement with the Trump administration. This decision comes after a period of halted flights that began in March due to a dispute between the two countries. On March 20, Venezuelan migrants arrived on a repatriation flight from Mexico at the Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela. President Nicolás Maduro announced the resumption of these flights, stating, 'Tomorrow, thanks to the government's perseverance, we'll resume flights to continue rescuing and freeing migrants from prisons in the United States. ' This announcement was made during a televised address, highlighting the importance of the flights for Venezuelan nationals. The White House and the US State Department did not respond to requests for comments regarding this agreement. Richard Grenell, a special envoy for Trump, initially brokered the deal with Venezuela's government to facilitate the return of its citizens who had been deported from the US. Trump mentioned on social media that Venezuela had agreed to accept back all illegal Venezuelan immigrants in the US, including members of the Tren de Aragua gang. He also stated that Venezuela would provide transportation for these individuals back to their home country. However, the situation became complicated when Maduro halted deportation flights on March 8, following the US Treasury Department's suspension of Chevron's permission to export oil from Venezuela. On March 15, the Trump administration deported 238 Venezuelans, alleging that they were part of a gang, and sent them to El Salvador, where they were detained in a large prison. The US government has not disclosed the names of those deported or the specifics of their alleged criminal activities. In a statement on Saturday, Jorge Rodríguez, the president of Venezuela's national assembly, addressed the issue of Venezuelan nationals currently held in El Salvador. He emphasized that Venezuela accepted the deal to ensure 'the return of our compatriots to their nation with the safeguard of their Human Rights. ' He further stated, 'Migrating isn't a crime, and we won't rest until everyone who wants to return is back and we rescue our kidnapped brothers in El Salvador. ' This situation has sparked significant legal challenges, as Trump has used a legal basis to remove 137 of the deported Venezuelans, prompting a federal judge in Washington, DC, to attempt to block the deportation flights to El Salvador. Despite the judge's order, the planes landed in El Salvador, and the country's president, Nayib Bukele, remarked on social media that the intervention came 'too late. ' The White House has faced accusations of defying the judge's order, which they have denied. This complex situation illustrates the ongoing tensions between Venezuela and the US, particularly regarding the treatment of Venezuelan nationals living abroad and the legal implications of their deportation.