US Deports 177 Venezuelan Migrants from Guantanamo, Ending Migrant Detention at Controversial Base
In a move marking the end of migrant detention at the controversial Guantanamo Bay naval base, the United States deported 177 Venezuelan migrants to their home country on Thursday, Al Jazeera reports.
The deportation, confirmed by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, follows a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) demanding legal access for the detainees.
The migrants were transported to Soto Cano, a joint US-Honduras military airbase, where they were handed over to Venezuelan authorities before being flown to Caracas on a Conviasa flight. Venezuela’s Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello personally welcomed the deportees upon arrival.
President Nicolas Maduro hailed the transfer as a “rescue” resulting from a “direct request” to the US government.
According to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, 126 of the deported individuals had criminal charges or convictions, with 80 allegedly linked to Tren de Aragua, a notorious Venezuelan criminal organization. The remaining 51 had no criminal history. Cabello stated that all 177 will undergo health checks before any pending criminal charges are pursued in Venezuelan courts.
While this particular transfer signifies the end of migrant detention at Guantanamo Bay, concerns remain. The Associated Press, citing Thomas Cartwright of Witness at the Border, reported additional immigrant transfer flights arriving at Guantanamo Bay on Thursday, originating from Texas and Louisiana.
The deportation occurred amidst an ACLU lawsuit seeking legal representation for the migrants held at Guantanamo, a facility marred by allegations of injustice and abuse following the September 11, 2001 attacks.
US authorities stated in a court filing that Venezuela had previously resisted accepting deported citizens, but changed its position after “high-level political discussions and an investment of significant resources.” This apparent shift underscores a potential thawing in relations between the two nations, despite past US accusations of election fraud against President Maduro.
The move follows Venezuela’s dispatch of two planes to the US last week, which repatriated some 190 Venezuelan deportees, further indicating a possible improvement in bilateral relations.
