In a key development on the immigration front, Venezuela has agreed to resume accepting deportation flights from the United States, reversing a recent suspension that had strained relations between the two countries. The decision comes just days after the Trump administration issued a warning of escalating sanctions if Venezuela failed to cooperate.
Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez confirmed that deportation flights will begin again, with the first flight scheduled for Sunday. The announcement marks a major step forward in the administration’s efforts to enforce immigration law and remove violent foreign nationals from American soil.
Suspension Sparked by Sanctions
Earlier this month, Venezuela had suspended deportation cooperation after the U.S. Treasury Department, under orders from President Trump, revoked Chevron’s license to export Venezuelan oil. The move was part of a broader effort to apply pressure on the Maduro regime and hold it accountable for failing to meet democratic benchmarks.
The Trump administration stood firm, making it clear that if deportation flights weren’t resumed, severe economic consequences would follow. According to U.S. officials, Venezuela was warned of “escalating sanctions” that would target key sectors of its already fragile economy.
Trump’s Crackdown on Foreign Gangs
The renewed deportation agreement also follows the high-profile removal of 250 Venezuelan nationals, many of whom were alleged members of the Tren de Aragua, a violent criminal organization tied to human trafficking, drug smuggling, and violent crime throughout Latin America and the U.S.
These deportees were flown to El Salvador’s high-security Terrorism Confinement Center earlier this month—a move that drew criticism from Venezuelan officials but was praised by law enforcement leaders and immigration authorities in the U.S.
Rubio and Trump Administration Hold the Line
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a longtime critic of the Maduro regime, played a key role in negotiations and made it clear that cooperation was not optional. Venezuela’s leadership, already facing economic pressure and diplomatic isolation, quickly recalibrated once the U.S. response became clear.
This resumption of deportations marks another major victory for President Trump’s border and national security agenda, showcasing a foreign policy that prioritizes strength, leverage, and American interests first.
Looking Ahead
The decision by Venezuela to resume deportation flights demonstrates that the Trump administration’s approach is working—pressuring hostile regimes, closing immigration loopholes, and ensuring that dangerous individuals are sent back where they came from.
As deportation flights resume, expect more aggressive removals of foreign criminals, particularly from nations that previously refused to take back their nationals. Under President Trump, the days of catch-and-release and empty diplomacy are over.