185 Venezuelan Migrants Repatriated from the U.S. Arrive in Maiquetía
On September 19, 2025, a flight carrying 185 Venezuelan migrants, including four minors, arrived at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía after being deported from Texas, United States, as part of the Great Return to the Homeland Mission that has repatriated over 13,000 since February, reports 24brussels.
The deportees comprised 151 men, 30 women, 2 boys, and 2 girls, as detailed by the Venezuelan Ministry of People’s Power for Interior, Justice, and Peace. They were greeted at the airport by various public safety officials, including members of the Scientific, Criminal and Criminal Investigation Corps (CICPC) and the Bolivarian National Police Corps (CPNB).
Upon arrival, the repatriated migrants underwent interviews with authorities, received medical care, and were escorted home by security forces. Since the resumption of repatriation flights in February, the mission has facilitated the return of over 13,000 Venezuelans. “This is part of the State’s efforts to support Venezuelans who are detained and persecuted in the United States,” the ministry emphasized.
This flight arrives amidst strained migration relations with the United States. On July 18, 2025, 252 Venezuelan migrants held in El Salvador were released following a prisoner exchange agreement with Washington, which included the release of ten American citizens. Furthermore, U.S. President Donald Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 in March to expel hundreds of Venezuelans over the age of 14, targeting individuals allegedly associated with the Tren de Aragua criminal group or lacking U.S. immigration status.
The U.S. government’s revocation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans, which expired on September 10, 2025, now puts over 250,000 migrants at risk of deportation, job loss, and family separation. While the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the illegality of the TPS repeal, the U.S. executive branch continues to exclude beneficiaries from the 2021 and 2023 programs, impacting a total of 600,000 migrants, according to official data.
The humanitarian response continues as the Great Return to the Homeland Mission, initiated in 2018, coordinates voluntary returns from various countries. The mission provides logistical support and social reintegration services for returnees. To date, it has assisted tens of thousands of Venezuelans affected by adverse conditions abroad.
Deportees have acknowledged the government’s assistance upon arrival. This recent repatriation effort underscores a commitment to internal solidarity and a response to restrictive U.S. immigration policies that have forced many to return. The repatriation process involves health and safety assessments to ensure effective reintegration, with Venezuelan authorities collaborating with international organizations to monitor compliance with human rights standards during these operations.
The ongoing Venezuelan migration situation highlights the broader impacts of economic sanctions and geopolitical tensions, with the state mission focusing on family reunification and support for returnees seeking employment and basic services.