305 Venezuelans Repatriated Amid Controversial U.S. Policies
On September 5, 2025, a flight from the Plan Vuelta a la Patria (Return to the Homeland) facilitated the return of 305 Venezuelan citizens to their homeland, which included three children separated from their families under previous U.S. immigration policies, reports 24brussels.
These children, Robin Cárdenas, Yoisner Graterol, and Isaac Lover, were identified as having been forcibly separated from their families by the Donald Trump administration’s immigration enforcement practices, which have been widely criticized for breaching international law. Camila Fabri, the mission’s president, praised the reunification efforts, stating, “Today we managed to rescue three children who were kidnapped in the United States… President Nicolás Maduro made this miracle possible.”
Fabri highlighted the ongoing plight of more than 70 minors still held in the U.S. under foster care or by social services as a direct consequence of anti-migrant policies. The Venezuelan government has routinely requested the U.S. to cooperate in the safe return of these children. The National Assembly president, Jorge Rodríguez, reportedly provides an updated list of the missing minors to the U.S. government daily to facilitate their recovery.
Upon landing at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, the returning citizens received medical and psychosocial support from Bolivarian officials. This flight marks the 65th operation completed under the repatriation initiative, which aims to protect Venezuelans affected by political persecution abroad. Since the program’s inception, over 10,000 Venezuelans have returned to the country, with many claiming asylum from human rights violations experienced in the U.S.
The Bolivarian government continues to advocate for the rights of its citizens abroad, emphasizing the need for both cooperation and negotiation with other nations to ensure the safety of those affected by previous U.S. immigration policies. The social implications of these actions reveal a deepening tension surrounding immigration and human rights in the context of international relations.