Venezuela’s national aviation authority celebrated the news with an announcement that the U.S. had suspended deportation flights to Venezuela. This decision preempts an important and transparent process that was already underway. That process was designed to address the desperate situation of Venezuelan nationals in immigration detention in the U.S. Contrary to this assertion, the U.S. administration has pushed back on this assertion, announcing that deportation flights would start up again after all.
On Thursday, Venezuela’s national aviation authority communicated its receipt of the U.S. government’s decision regarding the suspension. The authority condemned such a decision as unilateral, emphasizing the effect on planned return of Venezuelan nationals. The next flight was originally scheduled to be on December 12 but that has now been canceled.
Venezuela has said it is prepared to take its citizens back, even with the suspension of diplomatic relations. Their national aviation authority once again underlined this commitment in their statement.
“Venezuela reiterates its willingness to receive its citizens despite the suspension by the U.S.,” – Venezuela’s national aviation authority.
To make the deportation process run smoothly, the two countries focused on extensive communication and coordination. Their mission was to support Venezuelans who were being persecuted, detained and deported in the U.S. However, the recent developments have left a cloud of uncertainty over the fate of these deportation flights.
In response to Venezuela’s allegation, a senior U.S. administration official told reporters that suspension of the sanctions was “inaccurate.” Yet in their very next breath, they assured us that deportation charters to Venezuela would proceed as scheduled.
“There is no truth to this. Deportation flights to Venezuela will continue,” – a U.S. administration official.
This exchange is indicative of the current state of U.S.-Venezuela relations. It seeks to shed light on immigration policies and how Venezuelan nationals have been treated under those policies. Hundreds of thousands of others are likewise pursuing asylum or fighting legal battles in the U.S. For both countries, the coordination of deportation flights has become a key priority.
