- Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Tuesday that Venezuela will face more sanctions if it doesn’t accept deported citizens from the United States. Rubio emphasized that the repatriation of citizens is non-negotiable.
- His comments come as the Trump administration ramps up deportations and ends a residency program for 350,000 Venezuelans.
- Over the weekend, El Salvador received 238 members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. A U.S. district judge also ruled against returning two planes, a decision senior White House officials called “unlawful.”
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday, March 18, that Venezuela will face more sanctions if the country does not take back its deported citizens.
“Venezuela is obligated to accept its repatriated citizens from the U.S. This is not an issue for debate or negotiation. Nor does it merit any reward,” Rubio said.
Rubio’s message comes as the Trump administration pushes to increase the removal of migrants living in the country illegally and end a temporary residency program for 350,000 Venezuelans legally allowed to reside in the U.S. while seeking asylum.
Unless the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro “accepts a consistent flow of deportation flights without further excuses or delays,” Rubio added, “the U.S. will impose new, severe, and escalating sanctions.”
Last Thursday, March 13, Richard Grenell, the special presidential envoy for the mission of the United States, wrote on X that Venezuela had agreed to resume flights on Friday for deported citizens living illegally in the United States.
Last month, Trump terminated the U.S. permit allowing Chevron to pump and export Venezuelan oil. The decision cut off a key financial lifeline for Venezuela.
Over the weekend, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele confirmed his country received 238 members of Venezuela’s gang, Tren de Aragua.
On Saturday, March 15, a U.S. district court judge ordered the two planes to return to the United States. However, senior White House officials called the order “unlawful,” saying the directive came while the planes were over international waters. That judge was subsequently threatened with impeachment.
