US Transfers Migrants from Guantanamo to Venezuela

CARACAS, Feb 21 — The United States deported 177 Venezuelan migrants from its military base in Guantánamo, Cuba, to Honduras yesterday, where they were received by the Venezuelan government. The move signals a shift in relations between Washington and Caracas.

The coordinated operation follows recent diplomatic efforts, including a visit by US envoy Richard Grenell to Caracas on January 31. During the visit, Grenell met President Nicolás Maduro—who remains under a US bounty—and negotiated the release of six American prisoners. Shortly after, the US announced Venezuela's agreement to accept deported migrants.

The Venezuelan government stated that it had requested the repatriation of its citizens from Guantánamo, calling their transfer there unjust. Meanwhile, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed the deportation, stating that the migrants had been relocated to Honduras for Venezuelan authorities to handle.

Relations between the two nations have been strained since 2019, when the US recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s interim president following disputed elections. Maduro initially allowed US deportation flights in late 2023 but revoked permission four months later.

Venezuela remains eager to ease US sanctions and resolve political tensions stemming from last year's contested elections. Meanwhile, the US has ramped up deportation efforts, with another group of 135 migrants of various nationalities—including from China, Russia, and Afghanistan—sent to Costa Rica for repatriation.

The Guantánamo base, long associated with detaining terror suspects, has now been repurposed to process undocumented migrants. Human rights groups have filed lawsuits to gain access to detainees after former President Donald Trump ordered the facility to prepare for up to 30,000 migrants. — AFP