Bold claim: the U.S. is pressing to restart flights that send deported Venezuelans back home, even as President Trump has declared Venezuela’s airspace effectively closed. The Maduro government says those U.S.-operated deportation flights will continue at their current twice-weekly pace, reversing a Saturday statement that immigration authorities had paused the program unilaterally. A new overflight and landing request from U.S.-based Eastern Airlines seeks permission for a Wednesday arrival, using a Boeing 777-200 to land at Maiquetía International Airport, according to Venezuela’s foreign affairs minister. This plan follows a Monday submission and comes amid ongoing negotiations between Washington and Caracas.
Throughout this year, Maduro’s stance shifted under pressure from Washington. He stopped his longstanding reluctance to accept U.S. deportees and has framed the repatriations as a success, portraying the returning Venezuelans as escaping harsh conditions in U.S. detention. Immigrants continue to arrive at Caracas’ main airport on chartered flights operated by a U.S. government contractor or by Venezuela’s state airline, with more than 13,000 people sent home on these flights so far this year, the latest departure recorded on Friday.
The repatriation pact between the U.S. and Venezuela has drawn criticism from human rights groups, yet U.S. officials argue that the arrangement is a valuable tool to curb influence from transnational criminal gangs. The flights persist even as the U.S. conducts military strikes against vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific and off Venezuela’s Caribbean coast.
Officials in the Trump administration argue that the combination of targeted strikes and deportation flights constitutes a multi-pronged effort to disrupt criminal networks like the Tren de Aragua, which have been linked to drug trafficking and violence across the Americas. They have also claimed that some drug cartels fall under Maduro’s control. President Trump indicated that land-based strikes would begin soon, though he did not specify locations and suggested possible actions in other countries, including Colombia.
During a White House cabinet briefing, Trump remarked that land-based operations could be simpler because the routes and targets are more identifiable. He later clarified that the discussion referred to countries manufacturing and distributing fentanyl or cocaine, noting Colombia’s prominent role in cocaine production. He warned that anyone involved in distributing illicit drugs in the United States would face attacks, extending the scope beyond Venezuela.
The cabinet meeting occurred amid calls for investigations and bipartisan concerns in Congress about a potential follow-up strike on an alleged drug-smuggling operation, with some lawmakers raising questions about war crimes. In this tense backdrop, Pope Francis—visiting from Lebanon at the time—called for dialogue and economic pressure rather than military threats to achieve U.S. objectives in Venezuela. He cautioned that statements and actions from Washington can fluctuate and emphasized pursuing peaceful, constructive avenues to support ordinary Venezuelans.
Key context: Venezuela
