Venezuela will still accept deported migrants despite Trump's suggestion to close airspace

CARACAS, Venezuela Flights carrying deported migrants back to Venezuela will continue as planned, even after President Donald Trump suggested that Venezuelan airspace should be considered off-limits. The government of President Nicols Maduro confirmed on Tuesday that the twice-weekly flights will proceed at the request of the U.S. administration.

This announcement reverses a previous statement by Venezuelan authorities over the weekend, which indicated that U.S. immigration officials had temporarily halted the flights. On Monday, U.S.-based Eastern Airlines submitted an overflight and landing request for a Wednesday arrival, which was publicly shared by Venezuelas foreign minister on Tuesday.

Earlier this year, under pressure from the United States, Maduro ended his long-standing refusal to accept deportees from the U.S. Since then, Venezuelan airports near the capital, Caracas, have regularly received migrants on flights operated either by a U.S. government contractor or Venezuelas state airline.

The deportations have continued despite recent U.S. military actions targeting vessels suspected of drug trafficking near the eastern Pacific and Caribbean waters off Venezuela. The U.S. administration has stated that these operations aim to disrupt drug cartels, some allegedly linked to Maduro, while Trump is also considering potential strikes on the Venezuelan mainland.

More than 13,000 migrants have been returned to Venezuela this year through numerous chartered flights, with the most recent arriving last Friday.

Author: Chloe Ramirez