Venezuelan Repatriation Flights Resume via Honduras
Deportation flights for Venezuelan illegal migrants to their home country resumed on March 24, 2025, with a landmark flight arriving through Honduras. This marked the first repatriation flight since an agreement between the Venezuelan government and the Trump administration allowed the resumption of the process. Venezuelan President of the National Assembly Jorge Rodríguez announced on March 22 that the Bolivarian Government had agreed to restart the repatriation of Venezuelan migrants in the United States, with the first flight scheduled to depart on March 23, 2025.
The inaugural flight, operated by the state airline Conviasa, departed from the United States and made a stop in Honduras to facilitate a change of aircraft before continuing to its final destination at Simón Bolívar International Airport (CCS) in Maiquetía, Vargas. The flight touched down at 01:01 local time on March 24, and the humanitarian transfer process in Honduras was reported by Canal 6, a local TV station, to have started at approximately 16:30 local time. The entire operation was completed in an orderly and safe manner within about three and a half hours.
According to Venezuelan Minister of Interior, Justice and Peace Diosdado Cabello Rondón, 199 Venezuelan migrants were on board the flight. The US Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs also issued a statement on X, clarifying that the individuals deported had no legal basis to remain in the United States. The statement indicated that authorities expect to see a consistent flow of such deportation flights to Venezuela in the near future as the new policy takes effect.
The resumption of deportation flights has been a subject of significant debate. While Venezuelan government officials maintain that migration is not a crime and emphasize the need to repatriate those without legal status, critics argue that the policy may lead to humanitarian challenges. Video footage circulating on social media captured moments of relief and celebration among some deportees upon their arrival, despite being handcuffed during transit. This mixed reaction reflects the complex nature of migration policy, where legal, humanitarian, and political considerations often intersect.
The recent move comes after a period of disruption in repatriation operations. Earlier in March 2025, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had halted deportation flights following the US Treasury Department’s decision to revoke Chevron’s license to export oil from Venezuela. The subsequent policy shift in the United States further complicated matters. On March 15, 2025, US President Donald Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, a measure that allows authorities to detain, relocate, or deport immigrants based on their country of origin. The action referenced Tren de Aragua (TdA), identified as a Foreign Terrorist Organization with thousands of members allegedly linked to narco-terrorism through connections with the Nicolas Maduro regime-sponsored Cártel de los Soles.
As the new policy takes root, Venezuelan government officials stress their commitment to ensuring that all migrants who require repatriation are returned home. They argue that the process is essential to maintaining national sovereignty and managing migration flows effectively, while US authorities continue to implement measures aimed at addressing security concerns. With this recent flight, the resumption of deportation operations via Honduras signals a new chapter in the ongoing debate over migration policy and its implications for both Venezuela and the United States.
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