Two planes from Venezuela returned home Monday with nearly 200 Venezuelans who had been in the U.S. illegally. This was part of President Donald Trump's mass deportation plan.
The 190 migrants returning marked a potential easing of tensions between the two adversaries. It was also a win for the Trump administration, which had been pressing countries to take back their citizens.
The planes, operated by Conviasa airline, landed in Caracas. They departed from Fort Bliss, a U.S. Army base in El Paso, Texas.
"Two planes of illegal immigrants left El Paso today headed to Venezuela – paid for by the Venezuelans," Trump envoy Richard Grennell posted on X.
Deportation flights to Venezuela had been on hold for years. They briefly resumed in October 2023 under the Biden administration before stopping again.
Large numbers of Venezuelans have been arriving at the U.S. southern border since 2021. Venezuela’s refusal to take them back had become a serious issue.
The change came after Grennell visited Caracas a few weeks ago. His visit seems to have paved the way for an agreement.
"This is the world we want, a world of peace, understanding, dialogue, and cooperation," said Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Earlier Monday, the Venezuelan government confirmed the flights. They also criticized the "false" narrative about gang members among Venezuelan migrants. Most are hard-working people, they said, not criminals.
These deportation flights followed recent transfers of illegal aliens to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. There, they are housed separately from the 15 detainees connected to terrorism.
A New Mexico judge temporarily blocked three Venezuelan men from being sent to Guantánamo on Sunday. Their lawyers said the men were wrongly accused of gang ties.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio had also secured agreements with El Salvador and Guatemala. These countries agreed to accept their citizens and other U.S. deportees.
Trump praised Venezuela’s decision after Grennell’s visit. He said they had agreed to take back "all Venezuela illegal aliens" in the U.S., including gang members, and cover the flight costs. Six Americans held in Venezuela were released as part of the deal.