As Venezuelans continue to flee their country amidst economic and political turmoil, U.S. immigration authorities have reinstated deportation flights to Venezuela. The flights, which resumed Wednesday, are part of the Biden administration’s effort to deal with the growing number of illegal border crossings.
The first plane, a 737 jet that departed from the Texas border city of Harlingen, carried approximately 130 Venezuelan migrants back to their country, after touching down in Miami and then continuing on to Caracas. According to U.S. immigration officials, passengers chosen for the flight included those who have received final removal orders, which are issued after losing an asylum bid or to those who weren’t able to seek humanitarian protection or other relief in immigration court. Other passengers included recent arrivals and migrants who have committed crimes in the U.S. As passengers boarded, U.S. immigration officers patted them down.
The U.S. has seen record levels of migration from Venezuela as hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan migrants have made the dangerous journey to the U.S.-Mexico border. The Biden administration has responded by implementing new pathways to legal immigration paired with more stringent border enforcement. This resumption of deportations — the first of its kind to be dispatched to Venezuela in years — is intended to signal the administration’s commitment to imposing consequences on those making an illegal border crossing.
The U.S. government employs a fleet of charter carriers referred to as ICE Air. The migrant flights will travel to Venezuela from unspecified airports in the United States, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Biden’s administration said it plans to have “multiple” deportation flights a week to Venezuela.
The first deportation flight happened one day after Venezuela’s government and opposition agreed to work on electoral conditions, after which the U.S. announced sanctions relief on Venezuela’s oil, gas and gold mining sectors.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who has promised to make resources available to help deported migrants, said “I am glad that today, in compliance with the agreements discussed and signed between the authorities of Venezuela and the government of the United States, the first group of Venezuelans who have been repatriated have returned.”
The U.S. government hopes the new deportations will succeed in discouraging Venezuelans from trying to enter the United States illegally and will encourage them to opt for legal paths including the online appointment system.
What Happens To Venezuela Temporary Protected Status?
The restart of these deportation flights takes place just weeks after the Biden administration announced Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to approximately half a million Venezuelans, a status which provided these migrants with work permits and temporary relief from deportation. The 18-month Venezuela TPS extension and redesignation were warranted, according to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, because of Venezuela’s increased instability and lack of safety “due to the enduring humanitarian, security, political, and environmental conditions.” The TPS Venezuela development was also an attempt to address the concerns of New York Democrats who have been calling for help with the heavy influx of migrants that is straining its local resources.
While newly-arrived migrants with Temporary Protected Status [Venezuela] can work legally, TPS is not a pathway to permanent residency, and is available only to Venezualans who were already in the U.S. as of July 31.
Since the pandemic, deportation flights have resumed to other countries in addition to Venezuela, including Cuba. Last month U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials met with Mexican officials in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, and reached an agreement granting the U.S. permission to deport migrants arriving in border cities, including through the Ciudad Juárez international bridge.
Work With A Deportation Defense Attorney
With deportations poised to increase, Reeves Immigration Law Group is here to help. We understand the fear and uncertainty facing the U.S. immigrant population and will work diligently to proactively protect individuals and their families from deportation. We recommend seeking legal counsel for any questions regarding deportation. Our California immigration lawyers can help identify asylum, visas, and other legal statuses applicable to your situation to ensure you are safely present in the country.
Fill out our contact form today to discuss how a deportation defense attorney can help you find answers and peace of mind.
