Venezuela repatriates 311 nationals from Mexico

Venezuelan authorities confirmed the arrival of 311 nationals on a state-owned Conviasa flight to Caracas, according to Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello. This brings the total number of recently returned Venezuelan migrants to 920. Cabello stated the repatriation resulted from a "direct agreement with the Mexican government," though he provided no further details.

The announcement came moments after the U.S. government had taken to social media claiming Venezuelan officials were falsely reporting that repatriation flights from Mexico were occurring that day.

This development unfolds against the backdrop of controversial U.S. deportations of Venezuelans to El Salvador. The U.S. recently deported over 200 individuals alleged to be members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to El Salvador. These deportations, carried out under the rarely-used Alien Enemies Act of 1798, proceeded despite a federal judge's order attempting to block such actions.

The deportees are currently held in El Salvador's maximum-security prison known as the Centre for the Confinement of Terrorism (CECOT). Reports indicate the U.S. is compensating El Salvador for detaining these individuals as part of an agreement between the two countries.

Venezuelan officials have strongly condemned these U.S. deportations, characterizing them as "kidnappings" and arguing the individuals were denied due process. Venezuela's government is reportedly working to repatriate these citizens from El Salvador.

The situation has ignited debates over legal and human rights concerns, particularly regarding the use of the Alien Enemies Act and detention conditions.