Venezuela to allow US deportation flights for migrants after talks with Trump envoy

Venezuela is expected to allow the US to begin returning deported migrants directly to the South American country after discussions between a top US envoy and President Nicolás Maduro’s government.

Richard Grenell, President Donald Trump's special envoy, travelled to Caracas for talks, where Maduro reportedly agreed to permit flights for Venezuelan migrants who had been deported, ending a ban that had been in place for nearly a year, Caliber.Az reports via Bloomberg.

If Maduro follows through on the agreement, it would mark a significant development in Trump’s efforts to return undocumented migrants to their home countries. The arrangement could facilitate the deportation of hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan migrants, many of whom fled the country’s autocratic regime and economic collapse to seek refuge in the U.S.

However, the agreement is likely to draw criticism from those who have advocated for a more confrontational stance against Maduro’s government, particularly after evidence emerged of election fraud in Venezuela’s 2018 presidential race. Human rights groups, such as Foro Penal, have documented the ongoing political repression in the country, with over 1,400 political prisoners currently held.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is set to begin a Latin American tour, has raised concerns about renewing Chevron Corp.'s license to operate in Venezuela and has previously referred to opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the legitimate president. Meanwhile, Trump’s administration has been exploring alternative countries to accept deported Venezuelans, including discussions with El Salvador about potentially housing deportees linked to the Tren de Aragua criminal gang, which originated in Venezuela.

While details of the deportation agreement have not been publicly disclosed, US and Venezuelan officials confirmed that, following Grenell’s visit, six American citizens who had been detained in Venezuela were released. The talks reportedly covered several issues, including US sanctions, the release of American detainees, and migration.

In a late-night address on state television, President Maduro confirmed the discussions with Grenell, calling them “frank” and “positive,” and stated that “initial agreements” had been made. He added that further negotiations could pave the way for more agreements in the future.

By Tamilla Hasanova