Venezuela and U.S. Agree to Resume Deportation Flights Starting March 23
Venezuelan deportation flights from the U.S. will resume on March 23 post-agreement; Trump extends Chevron operations deadline. Rodríguez emphasizes migration is not a crime. Recent deportations linked to gang membership raise concerns. Negotiations indicate a shift in U.S. strategy towards engaging Maduro.
On Sunday, deportation flights from the United States to Venezuela are set to resume following an agreement between the two nations, as announced by Venezuelan official Jorge Rodríguez. He emphasized, “Migrating is not a crime and we will not rest until we achieve the return of all those who require it,” with the inaugural flight scheduled for March 23.
This announcement coincides with U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration permitting Chevron to operate in Venezuela for an additional 30 days, extending a deadline initially established for April 3. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had previously halted U.S. deportation flights in response to the Chevron situation.
The White House has not yet commented on the situation. Maduro values Chevron’s operations, which account for approximately 20% of Venezuela’s crude output, contributing significantly to the country’s hard currency supply.
Pressure from Trump on Maduro is aimed at securing a deal centered on democratic reforms and increasing the return of Venezuelans who migrated to the U.S. According to Geoff Ramsey from the Atlantic Council, Trump’s approach has shifted from demanding Maduro’s resignation to pushing for agreements around deportation flights.
Ramsey noted, “At this point, it seems almost certain that the wind-down deadline for Chevron will be extended, and perhaps, in time, become permanent.” He further stated that the U.S. government recognizes the Maduro administration’s resilience and may need to negotiate with it to address immigration and energy needs.
Despite earlier promises of resuming flights on March 14, the upcoming deportation flight will mark the first since the agreement. This follows last week’s deportation of over 200 Venezuelans to a prison in El Salvador, linked with gang affiliations. Additionally, a flight from Mexico brought back 311 Venezuelan migrants after negotiations with the Mexican authorities.
The resumption of U.S. deportation flights to Venezuela underscores the complex dynamics between the two countries as they negotiate oil operations and immigration policies. The agreement signifies a pivotal step in addressing migration issues while balancing economic dependencies on oil production.
Original Source: www.energyconnects.com
