The United States has deported over 100 Venezuelans on a repatriation flight, marking the first such action since the deadly earthquakes that ravaged the South American nation in late June. The Trump administration had been deporting hundreds of Venezuelans per week prior to the earthquakes, but the deportation drive came to a halt after the disaster struck.

Background

The last flight carrying 146 Venezuelans landed in Venezuela just hours before the earthquakes, which killed over 6,000 people and caused widespread destruction. Many of those on the flight were killed when a hotel they were being housed at collapsed in the quake.

A plane with 147 Venezuelan migrants took off from Miami and landed in Anzoátegui state, according to reports. The flight landed at General José Antonio Anzoátegui International Airport in the city of Barcelona.

The head of the repatriation program on the Venezuelan side, Mervin Maldonado, welcomed the migrants, saying they are returning home to reunite with their families and contribute to national development.

Context

Many Venezuelans have risked their lives on treacherous journeys to reach the US, fleeing an economic crisis and political repression back home. In October last year, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 300,000 Venezuelan migrants who were permitted entry under a humanitarian relief program.

Since then, the US had been deporting hundreds of people per week to Venezuela, with 1,746 Venezuelans deported in May, a month before the deadly earthquakes struck.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.