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President of Venezuela’s National Assembly, Jorge Rodriguez, confirmed that the first flight would depart on Sunday. He stated that the aim was to “ensure the return of our compatriots with the protection of their human rights.”
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had halted the flights on March 8 following claims made by US President Donald Trump that Venezuela had failed to meet its commitments.
In response, Caracas refused to accept any further flights. The situation escalated when the US government suspended Chevron’s license to export Venezuelan oil. Another point of contention was the US’s deportation of over 200 Venezuelans to a high-security prison in El Salvador, with Caracas branding this action as “kidnapping.” Washington claims the deportees belong to the Tren de Aragua gang, a group labeled a foreign terrorist organization by the US State Department, while Venezuela denies this accusation.
Maduro also addressed Nayib Bukele, the President of El Salvador, in a televised speech, stating that Bukele is accountable and must guarantee the health and freedom of the deportees.
Families of the deportees have protested in Venezuela, alleging that the US tricked the migrants into believing they were returning home after being in detention for days or weeks.
A US judge has temporarily halted further deportations, but some flights had already taken place. Over seven million Venezuelans have left their home country due to an economic collapse over the past decade, including those who oppose the Maduro government.
