Venezuela and US Agree to Restart Flights for Migrant Returns
Venezuela has reached an agreement with the United States to resume flights for returning migrants, President Nicolas Maduro announced on Saturday. According to Reuters, the flights will start on Sunday, aiming to bring back Venezuelan migrants who are currently detained in the U.S.
Maduro said the deal is part of Venezuela’s efforts to “rescue and free” its citizens from U.S. prisons. This comes after a dispute between the two countries over recent deportation flights that sent hundreds of Venezuelan migrants to a prison in El Salvador. Maduro criticized El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, saying he is responsible for the migrants’ well-being and should release them soon.
The agreement follows pressure from families and lawyers in Venezuela who have been trying to locate their missing relatives and clients. Many migrants were deported under a U.S. program targeting gang members, but Venezuela denies claims that the deportees were part of a criminal group.
The U.S. government has not yet commented on the deal. Meanwhile, a U.S. judge has given the Trump administration until March 25 to provide more details about the deportations to El Salvador, as officials face questions about whether they violated a court order blocking the expulsions.
This agreement highlights the challenges faced by migrants and the ongoing tensions between Venezuela and the U.S. It also shows Venezuela’s determination to bring its citizens home, calling migration “not a crime.”
Credit: Reuters for original reporting and details.