Venezuelans flown home as U.S. deportation flights resume
The Hindu
Venezuela receives deported citizens from the US via Honduras as Trump administration crackdown continues.
Venezuela on Monday (March 24, 2025) received nearly 200 citizens deported from the United States via Honduras, as President Donald Trump cracks down on undocumented foreigners.
A plane carrying the deportees touched down on Monday (March 24, 2025) at Maiquetia International Airport outside the capital Caracas.
"Today, we are receiving 199 compatriots," said Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello at the airport. Live footage showed young men in sweatsuits walking off the plane. Some of them were seen smiling and clapping as officials looked on.
The flight comes after Venezuela on Saturday (March 22, 2025) announced it had reached an agreement with Washington to resume repatriation flights from the United States.
It was the latest in a string of repatriations of Venezuelan migrants since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January. "Flights are resuming," Mr. Cabello said at the airport. "Trips have had little regularity, not because of Venezuela." "We are ready to receive Venezuelans wherever they are," he added.
The deportation pipeline was suspended last month when Mr. Trump claimed Venezuela had not lived up to a deal to quickly receive deported migrants, and Caracas subsequently said it would no longer accept the flights.
But then Washington deported 238 Venezuelans accused of belonging to the Tren de Aragua gang, which Mr. Trump has designated a foreign terrorist organisation, to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador, a move deeply criticized by Caracas.
Hong Kong's upcoming legislative election faces low turnout as residents mourn a devastating fire that claimed 159 lives.
Harvard professor Carlos Portugal Gouvea arrested for discharging a pellet gun near a synagogue; agrees to leave the U.S.
Macron cautioned Zelenskyy that the U.S. might pressure Ukraine into territorial concessions to Russia without security guarantees.
A Canadian national was arrested at the Indo-Nepal border for using a fake immigration stamp on his passport.
Appeals court permits Trump to maintain National Guard deployment in D.C., reversing a lower court's order to withdraw troops.
Iraq retracts its terror designation of Hezbollah and Houthis, citing an error amid regional political pressures and public backlash.
U.S. military strikes drug boats amid scrutiny over legality and rising casualties, prompting investigations and conflicting congressional testimonies.
Indian envoy Santosh Jha meets Sri Lanka’s Housing Minister to discuss reconstruction efforts following Cyclone Ditwah's devastating impact.
The U.S. and Kenya sign a $2.5 billion health deal, marking the start of "America First" global health agreements.
Explore the resilience and daily realities of Ukrainians enduring relentless warfare in a country forever changed by conflict.
Trump's envoys engage with Ukraine amid eased sanctions on Russia, seeking to advance peace negotiations following recent talks with Putin.
Explore China's rural revitalization efforts, showcasing poverty alleviation, local spirit, and sustainable development in its diverse landscapes.
UN Security Council delegates visit Syria for the first time since 1945, aiming to build trust and support national reconciliation.