Laura Gamba
11 February 2025•Update: 11 February 2025
BOGOTA, Colombia
Two planes carrying Venezuelan migrants deported by the US departed from Fort Bliss military base in El Paso, Texas on Monday bound for Venezuela, the government of President Nicolas Maduro confirmed.
The Conviasa Airlines planes were dispatched to the US to repatriate the first group of deported Venezuelans.
"The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela informs its people and the world that two planes are currently en route to Venezuelan territory…which were sent to the US as part of the 'Vuelta a la Patria' (Return to the Homeland) plan to repatriate Venezuelan migrant compatriots,” said a statement from the Venezuelan government.
The White House also confirmed the beginning of repatriation flights, noting that US special envoy Richard Grenell was overseeing the process, according to a post on X.
The Venezuelan government said that some people on board the planes may have links to "criminal activities" or may be associated with the Tren de Aragua criminal gang.
"As appropriate, these individuals will undergo a rigorous investigation upon their arrival in Venezuelan territory and will be subject to the penalties prescribed by our justice system," the Venezuelan government statement added.
These are the first such flights in a year, following an agreement reached by both administrations during Grenell's visit to the capital Caracas on Jan. 31.
During his visit, Grenell met with President Maduro and returned to the US with six American citizens who had been detained by the Venezuelan government.
On Friday, border czar Tom Homan confirmed that deportation flights from the US to Venezuela would begin "within the next 30 days." Trump had announced that Venezuela had offered to provide transportation for the return of deported individuals.
In February last year, Venezuela stopped accepting flights of migrants deported from the US following the Biden administration's decision to reimpose sanctions on the country.
