Deportation flights to Venezuela resumed a week of standoff on Sunday Trump administration The Venezuelan government, a deal has been reached between the two countries.
Flights carrying 199 illegal foreigners – including violent members Tren de Aragua (TDA) gang – To Venezuela, landed on Sunday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed with Fox News Digital.
The Trump administration vows to reach an agreement with the Venezuelan government to accept flights evacuated from the United States, but the regularity of the transfer is restricted President Nicholás Maduro Flights were stopped earlier this month – the Venezuelan government has only four flights since Trump was sworn in.
Venezuela resumes flights to accept U.S. deportation
Venezuelan immigrants passed through Honduras through ladders after deportation from Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, Raguaila, Venezuela on February 20, 2025. (Reuters/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria)
Maduro refused to accept flights after Trump announced that the U.S. would terminate Biden-era licenses to allow Chevron to export Venezuelan oil, effectively shutting down the country’s main source of income.
However, Venezuelan officials have confirmed Agree Saturday.
“Venezuela reports that within the framework of the Return to the Land Program, the purpose of returning our compatriots to their countries by safeguarding their human rights, we agree with the consent of the U.S. government to restore the repatriation of Venezuelan immigrants tomorrow, tomorrow, March 23, Jorge Rodriíguez,” Venezuela’s Congress and chief negotiator with the United States Posted to x statement Through the network telescope.
Flight tracking data A plane operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has left El Paso and is scheduled to land on Sunday afternoon at Soto Cano Air Force Base in Honduras. The second aircraft operated by Venezuelan state airline Conviasa will land at the air base within an hour of the arrival of the ice, appearing to be for handover between officials.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro addressed supporters at an event to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the founding of the social uprising known as “Caracazo”, and the late President Hugo Chavez said it marked the beginning of his revolution in Venezuela, Venezuela on February 27, 2025. (Reuters/Maxwell Briceno)
The deal comes after Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed that Venezuela would face “severe sanctions” if the country continues to refuse to accept citizens facing deportation.
“Venezuela has an obligation to accept citizens it has repatriated, and it is not a matter of debate or negotiation,” Rubio posted to X. “It is also worthy of any reward. Unless the Maduro regime accepts consistent movement of deportation, there are no further excuses or delays, no further excuses or delays, new, serious, serious, serious, escalating scope will be imposed.””. ”
The Trump administration did not immediately respond to Fox News numbers’ request for comment.
About 350 immigrants have been deported to Venezuela in recent weeks, including about 180 people detained at a naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Click here for more immigration coverage
President Donald Trump held his first cabinet meeting on February 26, 2025, sitting next to Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, DC. (Reuters/Brian Snyder)
Last week, the Trump administration coordinated with President Nayib Bukele to ride more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants to a high-security prison in El Salvador, despite a federal judge’s order temporarily blocking deportation.
“The migration is not a crime, and we will not rest until we achieve the return of all those who need it, until we rescue the brothers who were kidnapped in El Salvador,” Rodriguez said.
Madura also continued to condemn the flight, referring to the “kidnapping” of Venezuelans being detained in El Salvador on Saturday.
Click here to get the Fox News app
In an interview with Fox News Radio, Rubio thanked Buckley State for accepting immigration.
“Venezuela should bring them, but they refuse to accept them,” Rubio said. “So we are lucky to have a friend like President Buckley who, in part of his meeting, said we will take them away, which is a small part of what you spend to place them in your own prison system.”
Louis Casiano and Anders Hagstrom of Fox News Digital contributed to the report.
