HARLINGEN, Texas (Reuters) – The first U.S. deportation flight to Venezuela under a new Biden administration initiative arrived in Caracas on Wednesday. This move is part of a tougher approach to border enforcement as the U.S. grapples with an influx of illegal crossings.
Witnesses in Harlingen, Texas, saw buses delivering Venezuelan men and women in chains to the tarmac. They were thoroughly searched and then directed onto a chartered plane. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported that approximately 130 Venezuelans were deported.
Since taking office in 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden has faced a surge in migrants attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. This rise is largely due to the increasing number of Venezuelans fleeing economic and political unrest worsened by U.S. sanctions. In contrast, in fiscal year 2019, around 2,200 Venezuelans were apprehended at the border, while the number was 1,200 in 2020.
A few weeks ago, the Biden administration announced deportation relief and work permits for nearly 500,000 Venezuelans who arrived in the United States on or before July 31. The reasoning behind this decision was “Venezuela’s increased instability and lack of safety.”
Earlier this month, U.S. and Venezuelan officials announced that direct deportations to Venezuela would recommence after being on hold for years due to diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
Chief of U.S. Border Patrol Jason Owens emphasized that migrants should use legal pathways or schedule appointments to approach legal border crossings instead of crossing into the U.S. unlawfully. “The message is simple. If you want to come to this country, do it the right way,” Owens stated.
Corey Price, a senior ICE official, revealed that the agency plans to conduct multiple deportation flights to Venezuela each week.
On Tuesday, the Venezuelan government and political opposition agreed to electoral guarantees for the 2024 presidential elections. In response, the Biden administration is reportedly preparing to provide some sanctions relief for Venezuela’s oil and gas sector, as reported by Reuters on Wednesday.
The decision to increase deportations to Venezuela has faced criticism from immigration advocates earlier this month. Jennifer Piper, a program director with the American Friends Service Committee, described it as “deeply cruel and deadly” and urged the Biden administration to “end deportations to dangerous locations immediately.”
Reporting by Liliana Salgado and Daniel Becerril in Harlingen, Texas; Writing by Ted Hesson in Washington; Editing by Mary Milliken and Aurora Ellis
