The Venezuelan government announced on December 7, 2023, that the United States had “unilaterally” suspended a deportation flight intended for Caracas on December 8. This suspension, according to Venezuela’s Interior Ministry, interrupts a coordinated repatriation program that has facilitated the return of nationals detained in the U.S. The Ministry urged Washington to “rectify sooner rather than later” this decision, which they claim disrupts the process of family reunification for Venezuelan citizens.
A U.S. administration official responded to the Venezuelan claims, stating to Reuters, “there is nothing true about this,” emphasizing that deportation flights to Venezuela “will continue.” The official did not specify whether the flight scheduled for December 12 would still take place. This exchange highlights increasing tensions between Washington and Caracas, especially following the seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker by the Trump administration earlier in the week. Additionally, the U.S. has deployed extra warships and aircraft near Venezuela as part of anti-narcotics operations.
The Venezuelan Interior Ministry’s statement criticized the suspension, arguing it contradicts the U.S. government’s official stance on migrant conditions. They expressed concern that this uncertainty impacts Venezuelan families anticipating reunification. The Ministry reiterated its commitment to welcoming back its citizens and providing support for their reintegration into society.
Despite the heightened diplomatic tensions, deportation flights from the U.S. to Venezuela had been proceeding regularly. Official data indicate that since January, Venezuela has received 98 deportation flights, usually on Wednesdays and Fridays. The most recent flight arrived on December 6, carrying 218 deportees, according to reports from NTN24.
A report from Human Rights First’s ICE Flight Monitor estimates that approximately 10,200 Venezuelans have been deported from the U.S. between February and early October 2023. This increase in deportations follows the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans in the U.S. in November. The Supreme Court’s decision to allow this policy change has left hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans vulnerable to deportation.
As the situation evolves, both nations continue to navigate complex diplomatic relations, with the rights and welfare of Venezuelan nationals caught in the crossfire.
