Venezuela could face increasingly harsh sanctions if it does not agree to take back its citizens deported from the United States, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This warning comes amid efforts by the Trump administration to increase deportations of Venezuelans residing illegally in the U.S. and reconsider a temporary residency program that currently benefits hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans, potentially affecting their legal status.
The issue has gained attention following the State Department's announcement that nine Americans are being detained by Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. Former U.S. Army Green Beret and Venezuela specialist Jordan Goudreau has highlighted the broader national security implications of this situation.
Rubio emphasized that Venezuela must accept its citizens returning from the U.S., stating that this is non-negotiable and does not warrant any concessions. If the Maduro government does not comply with regular deportation flights, the U.S. will implement new, more severe sanctions.
This development follows comments from Richard Grenell, President Donald Trump's special envoy, who noted that Venezuela had agreed to accept repatriation flights after initially resisting.
In February, the Trump administration revoked a permit allowing Chevron to export oil from Venezuela to the U.S., citing the Maduro government's failure to meet conditions for free and fair elections.
The administration is also working to deport Venezuelan gang members, with 238 individuals recently transferred to a high-security facility in El Salvador, despite a federal judge's temporary block on the deportations. Rubio expressed gratitude to El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele for accepting these migrants, highlighting the cost savings compared to housing them in U.S. prisons.
Rubio praised President Bukele's cooperation and suggested that such arrangements should continue in the future.