Resumption of Repatriation Flights as 199 Venezuelans Return Home
A chartered flight with 199 Venezuelan migrants deported from the U.S. has safely landed in Caracas, marking the resumption of repatriation flights following a recent agreement. Footage showed deportees expressing joy upon arrival, while U.S. authorities announced expectations for consistent deportation flights. The process had previously stalled over tensions stemming from U.S. sanctions against Venezuela.
On March 24, a chartered flight carrying 199 Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States arrived safely in Caracas, signifying the resumption of repatriation flights between the two nations. This development follows a recent agreement aimed at managing the deportations. The flight originated in the U.S., made a stop in Honduras, and landed at an airport just north of the Venezuelan capital, where many deportees expressed relief and joy upon their arrival.
Upon disembarking, some deportees celebrated while others made the sign of the cross, reflecting a mixture of emotions regarding their return. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced on social media that, “Today, deportation flights of Venezuelan illegal aliens to their homeland resumed via Honduras.” They noted the expectation of a consistent flow of flights moving forward, collaborating with the Honduran government to address illegal immigration.
According to Honduras’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Enrique Reina, the transfer occurred, “in an orderly and safe manner” and took three and a half hours. The resumption of flights had been previously stalled due to the decision made under the Trump administration to revoke Chevron’s operational license in Venezuela, which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro claimed impacted these repatriation efforts.
The return of repatriation flights also follows an uproar in Venezuela over the deportation of 238 Venezuelans to El Salvador, where they faced accusations of affiliations with the Tren de Aragua criminal group. However, relatives of the deportees expressed that many had no criminal connections, raising concerns over the treatment of migrants in these situations.
The recent arrival of a deportation flight carrying 199 Venezuelans marks the resumption of repatriation efforts between the United States and Venezuela, following a temporarily stalled process due to diplomatic tensions. The emotional responses of returning migrants highlight the complex implications of such deportation policies. Continued cooperation between the U.S. and Honduran governments aims to ensure a steady flow of these flights, further complicating the dialogue surrounding immigration and national security.
Original Source: www.tribuneindia.com
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