US, Venezuela to resume migrant deportation flights after apparent pause: Why is this bad for many?

The United States and Venezuela have agreed to restart deportation flights for Venezuelan migrants, senior officials from both countries confirmed on Thursday (March 13), following what appeared to be a temporary halt in the controversial repatriation programme launched last month.

Richard Grenell, a special envoy for President Donald Trump, announced on social media that flights would resume on Friday.

Hours later, Venezuelan lawmaker Jorge Rodríguez, who has led negotiations with the US on migration, sanctions, and other matters, issued a statement saying the deal would protect the rights of deported migrants.

Grenell visited Caracas in late January for talks with President Nicolás Maduro, including discussions on migrant returns. Shortly after his visit, Venezuela released a group of detained Americans, and deportation flights began.

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Venezuelans fleeing economic crisis

Venezuelans have made up a significant share of those seeking entry into the US in recent years, fleeing a prolonged economic and political crisis. But the deportation programme hit a roadblock last week, when Maduro claimed the flights had been “affected” by the Trump administration’s decision to revoke a key oil license, which had allowed US-based Chevron to operate in Venezuela.

Washington justified the decision by pointing to the lack of progress on electoral reforms, as well as the apparent delay in returning migrants. The Maduro government, which had relied on the Chevron deal for crucial revenue, condemned the move as part of a broader “economic war” waged by the US through sanctions.

Maduro was declared the winner of last year’s disputed presidential election by Venezuela’s electoral authority and top court.

However, the government never released detailed vote tallies from ballot boxes. The opposition later published its own figures, showing its candidate had won by a landslide, prompting the US and several other governments to dismiss the official results as fraudulent.

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The resumption of deportation flights is likely to reignite criticism from human rights groups, who have warned that many returning migrants face persecution or economic destitution upon arrival in Venezuela.

With inputs from Reuters