According to reports, 177 Residents were transferred from the United States, utilizing , a path through Honduras before the people were returned to Caracas after being held at Guantanamo Bay. After a U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) flight to Honduras, the individuals subsequently boarded a Venezuelan aircraft operated by the state-owned airline Conviasa. With current flights carrying 190 people straight from the U.S. to Venezuela, this is a rare instance of organized deportations between the two nations.
The group’s representative, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, claimed they had been unfairly transported to Guantanamo Bay and asked for their relocation. The U. S. government, however, has alleged that some of those detained at the marine base are linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, a famous legal network that has expanded beyond Venezuela into different regions, including the U. S. Just, the U. S. officially designated the gang as a “foreign criminal organization”.
However, the Cuban government has not only reaffirmed its commitment to tackling terrorism and organized crime, but also condemned what it perceives to be politically determined efforts to marginalize both the nation and its citizens. Despite information from various countries confirming the detention of Tren de Aragua members, the Maduro leadership has claimed that the evil team has been dismantled.
The Trump administration has prioritized persecution of individuals who have exhausted all legal routes to be in the U. S., with ICE information indicating that nearly 1.5 million people, including over 22, 000 Venezuelans, have last treatment orders, reports the Associated Press.
Guantanamo Bay has also been used to house migrants intercepted at sea, making it primarily known for detaining terrorist suspects following 9/11. A recent court filing by U.S. immigration and military officials highlighted Venezuela’s historical reluctance to accept deportees but noted a change as a result of political negotiations.
Two U.S. government flights flew from Texas and Louisiana to Guantanamo Bay last week, before heading to Honduras, where Venezuelan authorities took custody of the deportees. The Associated Press reports that the exact number of passengers on these flights is a mystery.  ,
Trump previously stated his intention to expand Guantanamo’s migrant detention capacity, aiming to house up to 30, 000 individuals, though the facility’s current capacity is about 2, 500. In addition, a legal challenge seeks to grant detainees prior notice before being transferred to Guantanamo or deported to other nations and to ensure that they have access to legal counsel.
The Departments of Homeland Security and Defense have acknowledged logistical difficulties in making in-person visits to detainees, but they are still looking into options for legal access.
