Venezuela Agrees to Accept Deportees—Funds Return Flights for 190 Illegal Aliens

The ongoing crisis at America’s southern border has challenged every recent administration’s ability to enforce immigration law.

For years, diplomatic roadblocks prevented the removal of illegal aliens from countries that refused to accept their return.

Multiple nations have historically resisted taking back their citizens who entered the U.S. illegally. This created a persistent challenge for immigration enforcement efforts. Amazingly, President Trump’s leadership has brought about meaningful change.

Dramatically this week two planes departed El Paso, Texas. The aircraft carried 190 illegal immigrants back to Venezuela, with the flights being paid for entirely by the Venezuelan government.

Not long ago this could not be done.

The deportation flights came after Trump envoy Richard Grennell’s diplomatic mission to Caracas just weeks ago.

Grennell announced on social media:

Two planes of illegal immigrants left El Paso today headed to Venezuela—paid for by the Venezuelans.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro state:

This is the world we want, a world of peace, understanding, dialogue and cooperation.

Let that sink in:

[T]he same leader who previously thumbed his nose at U.S. immigration law is now paying to take back illegal immigrants.

How did previous administrations miss this obvious solution? They did not want a solution such as this.

The administration’s comprehensive strategy extends beyond the Venezuela agreement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has secured similar cooperation from El Salvador and Guatemala, creating a network of partnerships to facilitate deportations. This is what putting America first looks like in practice.

Some illegal aliens with suspected gang ties are being detained at Guantanamo Bay, separated from the existing terrorist suspects held there. Finally, a proper use for those empty cells. This decisive action sends a clear message about the administration’s zero-tolerance approach toward criminal aliens.

The Venezuelan government pushed back against claims about Tren de Aragua gang members but agreed to accept all deportees while covering transportation costs—remarkable shift from their previous stance.

The successful negotiations demonstrate how Trump’s “America First” approach delivers concrete results. By securing foreign cooperation and having other nations cover deportation costs, the administration protects both American security and taxpayer resources.

Six Americans held in Venezuela were released during the diplomatic exchanges. This highlights the broader benefits of the administration’s firm but strategic negotiating position. When you negotiate from strength, good things happen.

The Venezuela agreement sets an important precedent for future negotiations with other nations whose citizens enter the U.S. illegally. As more countries agree to accept their deported citizens and cover transportation costs, the financial burden on American taxpayers decreases.

These developments signal a significant shift in immigration enforcement capability, demonstrating that with proper leadership and determination, even long-standing diplomatic obstacles to immigration enforcement can be overcome. As additional nations fall in line with these new cooperative arrangements, Americans can expect to see continued progress in restoring order at the southern border.

The message is clear: America’s immigration laws will be enforced, and other nations will cooperate—or face the consequences.