On Monday, Venezuela's government announced that two deserters from the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) were among the 190 migrants deported from the United States to Caracas last week. Diosdado Cabello, the Interior Minister of the regime, claimed that both individuals received "appropriate treatment" and their human rights were respected, though he did not provide details regarding their identities or legal status, according to EFE News Agency.
Venezuela's Organic Code of Military Justice stipulates that military desertion is punishable by expulsion from the FANB and can lead to prison sentences of up to eight years, with harsher penalties if the offense occurs abroad. During a press conference aired on the state-run channel VTV, Cabello emphasized that none of the deportees were affiliated with the Tren de Aragua, countering earlier reports from Washington that suggested the presence of individuals linked to the criminal organization on the flights. However, he noted that a background check revealed that 17 of those repatriated had outstanding legal issues in Venezuela for crimes committed between 2010 and 2018.
Cabello confirmed that authorities, including the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (Dgcim), are handling cases involving deportees with criminal records. The deportation process is unfolding amid a recent thaw in relations between Caracas and Washington, following a January meeting between Nicolás Maduro and U.S. Special Representative Richard Grenell, which resulted in an agreement to accept deported migrants in exchange for the release of six American citizens detained in Venezuela.
It is also known that at least 150 members of the Tren de Aragua have been deported to the Guantanamo Naval Base in eastern Cuba.
US-Venezuela Deportation Flights and Their Implications
Last Monday, the United States commenced deportation flights to Venezuela, a move that occurred more swiftly than anticipated and signaled the tightening of immigration policies under the Trump administration. In response, Maduro's regime reactivated the "Return to the Homeland" plan, dispatching aircraft to repatriate Venezuelan citizens from the United States.
Understanding the Impact of US-Venezuela Deportation Policies
What are the consequences for Venezuelan military deserters?
Military deserters in Venezuela face expulsion from the FANB and can receive prison sentences of up to eight years, with potentially harsher penalties if the desertion occurs abroad.
How has the US tightened its immigration policies with Venezuela?
The US has commenced deportation flights to Venezuela, marking a rapid implementation of stricter immigration measures under the Trump administration.
What is the "Return to the Homeland" plan?
The "Return to the Homeland" plan is an initiative by the Venezuelan government to repatriate its citizens from foreign countries, including the United States.