Venezuela resumes return of US migrants after Trump-related tensions

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has approved the continuation of repatriation flights for migrants from the United States, Venezuelan authorities announced Tuesday. The move came just days after Caracas criticized comments by U.S. President Donald Trump that it said undermined the returns program.

Venezuela's transport ministry confirmed that the United States had requested the resumption of flights and granted permission for the Eastern Airlines plane from Phoenix to land in Caracas.

Repatriation flights have so far been twice a week. However, over the weekend, Trump declared that the airspace over Venezuela should be 'completely closed', which has caused concern and uncertainty in the country.

Caracas had previously announced that nearly 14 thousand Venezuelans had returned to the country between February and November as part of the program. The repatriations are being carried out against a backdrop of strained relations between the two countries and tightening rhetoric from the Trump administration towards immigrants.

(reuters, max)