The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has threatened Venezuela with new sanctions. The catalyst for the move was the deportation of Venezuelans who had illegally entered the US. On Tuesday, Rubio posted on the platform X, stating that Venezuela is obligated to accept the repatriation of its citizens from the US. “This is not a topic for debate or negotiation” he said.
At the same time, Rubio ruled out the possibility of the US rewarding Venezuela for accepting the repatriation of its citizens. Instead, he warned that if the Venezuelan government hinders deportation flights from the US, the country can expect “new, stricter and increasing” punitive measures.
Over the weekend, US authorities deported over 200 suspected members of a Venezuelan drug cartel to El Salvador. The 238 men were immediately incarcerated in the notorious Megagefängnis CECOT. US President Donald Trump had authorized the deportation under the 1798 Foreign Enemies Act, citing the law’s provisions. The decision sparked criticism in both Venezuela and the US, with a judge even ordering a 14-day halt on all deportations based on Trump’s executive order. However, the planes carrying the suspected gang members had already taken off for El Salvador by the time the halt was issued.
On Sunday, El Salvador’s President, Nayib Bukele, confirmed the arrival of the 238 suspected members of the Tren de Aragua cartel. He posted a video showing several men in handcuffs and leg restraints being escorted by a convoy to the “Center for the Isolation of Terrorists.” In the accompanying text, the politician stated, “The United States will pay a low fee for them, but a high one for us.”
In February, Bukele had offered to have prisoners and convicted criminals from the US serve their sentences in El Salvador during a meeting with Rubio.
Venezuela’s President, Nicolás Maduro, described this event as “aggression” and referred to it as the “greatest hostile act” against the Venezuelan people. He emphasized, “Our migrants are not criminals and not murderers. They are good people.”
Maduro announced plans to file a complaint with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and other international organizations, deeming it unacceptable that Venezuelan citizens are being kidnapped, without a court ruling and then deported to a “concentration camp” in the US and then another in El Salvador.
In this context, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry warned citizens of the country to exercise caution when traveling to the US. The ministry also advised those living in the US to be vigilant, citing the US immigration authority’s recent arbitrary actions and discrimination against Venezuelans.