US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that Venezuela has agreed to accept deported migrants from the United States, including gang members, as part of ongoing efforts to curb illegal immigration.
Trump made the statement on his platform, Truth Social, following the return of six Americans who had been detained in Venezuela. He claimed the Venezuelan government had not only agreed to take back its nationals but would also provide transportation for their return.
“Venezuela has agreed to receive, back into their Country, all Venezuela illegal aliens who were encamped in the US, including gang members of Tren de Aragua,” Trump wrote. “We are in the process of removing record numbers of illegal aliens from all Countries, and all Countries have agreed to accept these illegal aliens back.”
The return of the six Americans, whose identities were not disclosed, followed a meeting between Trump’s special envoy, Richard Grenell, and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The two leaders discussed deportation policies and US-Venezuela relations, with Maduro reportedly calling for a “new beginning” in diplomatic ties.
Grenell traveled to Caracas with the demand that Venezuela accept the unconditional return of its deported nationals or face unspecified consequences. A photo later surfaced showing the six freed detainees smiling alongside Grenell on a plane back to the US.
Trump has vowed to execute what he calls the largest deportation operation in US history if re-elected, promising to expel millions of undocumented immigrants, many of whom come from Latin America. His latest announcement regarding Venezuela signals a renewed push to secure agreements with foreign governments to facilitate large-scale removals.
