“In order to ensure the return of our compatriots while maintaining their human rights, we agreed with the US government to resume Venezuelan migrants with a first flight tomorrow,” said Rodriguez. “Migration is not a crime,” he added.
According to Venezuela’s left -wing nationalist President Nicolás Maduro, another deportation flight from the United States to the South American country is already planned for Sunday – the fifth since US President Donald Trump took office in January. “Tomorrow we will resume the flights to rescue and release migrants from US prisons thanks to the persistence and perseverance of our government,” said Maduro on Saturday. “We will save a group of young men tomorrow, coming and next week.”
Around 900 Venezuelans had been deported to their homeland since February, most of the USA and some from Mexico. However, the deportation fees from the USA to Venezuela had been suspended last month. US President Trump had accused the country that it had not complied with his return commitments. The government in Caracas then stated that it would no longer accept the flights.
A week ago, the United States pushed more than 200 alleged members of a Venezuelan drug gang to El Salvador, where they were detained. Maduro, who is not recognized by the United States, had branded this as a “kidnapping”. The government in Caracas said that it regarded the transfer of its citizens to El Salvador as a possible “crime against humanity”.
