First Deportation Flight With 199 Venezuelans Lands In Caracas

The first repatriation flight carrying nearly 200 Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States landed in Venezuela on March 24, marking the resumption of such flights following a recent agreement between the two countries. The flight, which had a stopover in Honduras, was met with mixed reactions in Venezuela, especially after previous deportations to El Salvador led to outrage over alleged mistreatment of deported individuals. Venezuelan officials expressed joy at the return of their citizens, while also condemning the U.S. for deporting others to a notorious prison in El Salvador. The agreement to resume flights comes after tensions escalated due to the U.S. revoking Chevron's operational license in Venezuela, which Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro claimed affected repatriation efforts. Maduro's government has labeled the deportees sent to El Salvador as 'kidnapped,' and seeks their return. The U.S. has asserted that the deportees had no legal basis to remain in the country and plans to continue the repatriation process.