Trump Administration Begins Repatriation Flights of Venezuelans Who Were Illegally in the U.S.
Within about three weeks of being in office, the Trump administration has begun repatriation flights of Venezuelans who were illegally in the U.S. The administration also negotiated for Venezuela to pay for their return.
Repatriation Flights to Venezuela Resumed
President Donald Trump’s envoy for special missions Richard Grenell announced that two planes left El Paso, Texas, Monday for Venezuela, “paid for by the Venezuelans.” The White House also posted a photo of the flights on social media saying, “Repatriation flights to Venezuela have resumed, with Ambassador Richard Grenell overseeing the first two flights.”
After a diplomatic mission to Venezuela on Jan. 31, Grenell announced that Venezuela’s president “agreed to take back all the illegal immigrants in the U.S. from Venezuela – and pay for it! Thanks to Donald Trump.”
Reversal of Biden Administration Policies
The flights and agreement from Venezuela are a marked reversal from Biden administration policies, which didn’t include negotiating with countries that refused to take back their own citizens, including Venezuela. The U.S. deportation process relies on diplomatic relations, including confirming citizenship, implementing visa processes and processing documentation to receive citizens, including those wanted by foreign authorities for crimes.
Under the Biden administration, a record more than 1 million Venezuelans illegally entered the U.S., including violent TdA members who expanded operations in at least 22 states. Instead of processing them for removal, the administration granted many temporary protective status to prevent immediate deportation or enrolled them in a range of parole programs, which federal judges ruled, and Republicans in Congress argued, were illegal.
Trump Administration Actions
On Trump’s first day in office, he rescinded Biden administration orders, including the parole program and temporary protective status created for Venezuelans. He also designated TdA as a foreign terrorist organization, declared an invasion and national emergency at the southern border, and directed the U.S. military to participate in border security efforts.
By Feb. 4, the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense transported 10 high-threat confirmed TdA members to Guantanamo Bay. More are expected to be sent there prior to being repatriated to Venezuela.
Syndicated with permission from The Center Square.
