U.S. to resume deportation flights for Venezuelans

Federal officials announced plans on Thursday to resume deportations of Venezuelan migrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. Venezuelans made up the single largest group encountered in illegal border crossings last month. The Biden administration is discouraging illegal border crossings with “strict consequences” while expanding legal pathways for asylum seekers, said U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The United States had previously halted deportations due to strained relations with Venezuela, but Mayorkas said the Venezuelan government had agreed to accept the country’s returning nationals. Officials on Thursday did not give details on when the repatriation flights would resume.

What about Venezuelan migrants already in the U.S.? The administration on Thursday also announced an expansion of temporary protected status for thousands of qualifying Venezuelans who arrived in the United States before July 31.

Dig deeper: Read Addie Offereins’ report in Compassion examining the root causes of the latest border surge.