On March 24, 2025, deportation flights for Venezuelan illegal migrants to their home country resumed through Honduras, marking the first flight since an agreement between the Venezuelan government and the Trump administration to renew the process. This flight signifies a pivotal moment in US-Venezuela relations and is a response to several weeks of negotiations.
The inaugural flight, operated by the state airline Conviasa, landed at Simón Bolívar International Airport (CCS) in Maiquetía, Vargas, at 01:01 local time. It originated from the United States and made a stop in Honduras for a change of aircraft. Earlier, on March 22, 2025, Venezuela’s President of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, announced that the Bolivarian Government would repatriate Venezuelan migrants in the US starting March 23, 2025. Rodríguez declared, "Migration is not a crime, and we will not rest until we achieve the return of all those who require it." This emphatic statement underscores the Venezuelan government's commitment to facilitating the return of its citizens.
Honduran TV station Canal 6 reported that the humanitarian transfer process for returning migrants began around 16:30 local time, with the operation completed in approximately three and a half hours “in an orderly and safe manner.” Venezuelan Minister of Interior, Diosdado Cabello Rondón, confirmed the flight carried 199 Venezuelan migrants, stating, "Today we are receiving 199 compatriots." However, the US Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs pointed out these individuals had "no legal basis to remain in the United States."
The context for this renewal of flights involves troubled waters in diplomatic relations between the US and Venezuela. On March 8, 2025, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had halted the deportation flights after the US Treasury Department revoked Chevron’s license to export oil from Venezuela. This critical economic issue complicated ongoing negotiations between the two nations, leading to heightened tensions that culminated in a standstill in deportations.
Then, on March 15, 2025, US President Donald Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, allowing authorities to detain, relocate, or deport immigrants based on their country of origin. This decision was aimed at groups like the Tren de Aragua (TdA), identified by the Trump administration as a 'Foreign Terrorist Organization' with thousands of members believed to have infiltrated the US.
Following the resolution of the stand-off, the inaugural deportation flight arrived at Maiquetía from Honduras, greeting a different reality than the initial withdrawals of Venezuelans earlier in the year. Video footage shared on social media depicted deportees on the aircraft expressing joy at their return, raising their arms and smiling, even while still handcuffed. They arrived excitedly despite their circumstances, a poignant image reflecting the complex emotions surrounding migration and repatriation.
Venezuelan officials welcomed the deported individuals with open arms. Cabello stated, "Flights are resuming," confirming the country’s readiness to receive its citizens. This timing comes after President Trump had claimed previously that Venezuela failed to promptly accept deported migrants. In a response to the indicated tensions, the Trump administration had barred the deportation pipeline and shifted many Venezuelan deportees to third countries in Central America, notably implicating the strained relations following Trump's recognition of opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim president in early 2019.
The contentious climate surrounding these agreements does not end here; the US had also deported 238 Venezuelans accused of ties to the Tren de Aragua gang to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador, where concerns arose regarding their treatment. This horrifying development, invoking a historical precedent from a 200-year-old law allowing such deportations during wartime, raised suspicions and concerns about constitutional rights, especially given the existing court ruling ordering detainment delays for some.
Despite these issues, the process of accepting deportees is continuing, with an estimated 350 Venezuelans having been repatriated since the onset of the year. This includes a notable number, approximately 180, originally detained at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay. The potential of resuming flights under the pressing conditions imposed by sanctions and domestic unrest in both nations reveals a layered landscape of migration, law, and human rights.
In summary, as of March 24, 2025, the resumption of deportation flights to Venezuela reiterates complex diplomatic dynamics between the US and a nation grappling with vast socio-economic problems. The interaction raises ongoing questions regarding migration policies, international relations, and human dignity—subjects that have long shaped the narratives in both countries. Future developments could see more calls for effective humanitarian responses as both nations navigate the intricacies of their confrontation and cooperation.
