DHS Announces that U.S. to Resume Removals of Venezuelans in the United States to Venezuela

On the heels of announcing the construction of border barriers, the Department of Homeland Security (and here) has announced that “[i]n keeping with our commitment to enforce our immigration laws, and to continue strengthening the consequences for those who cross our border unlawfully, the United States is announcing today that it will resume direct repatriations of Venezuelan nationals who cross our border unlawfully and do not establish a legal basis to remain. . . . This announcement follows a decision by authorities from Venezuela to accept the return of Venezuelan nationals, as well as high-level discussions yesterday in Mexico City between the United States, Mexico, Colombia, and Panama where Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas, and Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall discussed ongoing coordinated efforts to address irregular migration in the Western Hemisphere.”

NPR reports on the announcement to restart deportations to Venezuela and resume repatriation flights immediately. Economic and political turmoil in Venezuela has fueled migration. This year, an stimated 400,000 migrants have crossed the Darién Gap, a treacherous stretch of jungle between South America and Central America, to reach the United States

KJ