A plane carrying over 170 Venezuelan migrants who were previously held in Guantanamo Bay after being deported from the US has arrived in Venezuela. The group was flown to Honduras before being transferred to Venezuela, as confirmed by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This flight has significantly reduced the number of migrants at the naval base, a result of President Donald Trump's strict immigration policies.
There have been concerns raised regarding the legality of sending migrants to Guantanamo Bay, a location known for housing prisoners from the US-led 'war on terror.' The Department of Homeland Security has alleged that the Venezuelan migrants sent to the base have connections to the Tren de Aragua gang, a criminal network originating in a Venezuelan prison.
The Venezuelan government has officially requested the repatriation of its nationals who were taken to Guantanamo Bay. President Nicholas Maduro emphasized that these individuals are not criminals but rather people who emigrated due to sanctions, welcoming them back as a productive force.
Recent court filings have revealed that not all migrants sent to Guantanamo Bay are considered high threats. Out of the 177 individuals, 127 were classified as high threat and placed in the maximum-security prison, while 51 were deemed low-to-medium threat and are being held at a migrant operations center, all hailing from Venezuela.
In response to the Trump administration's decision to revoke protections for certain migrants, a group of Venezuelans shielded from deportation under humanitarian relief has filed a lawsuit. The Department of Homeland Security's move to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) has left approximately 600,000 individuals uncertain about their future, with protections for around 350,000 Venezuelans set to expire in April and an additional 250,000 facing potential loss in September.
