Title: US Announces Resumption of Deportation Flights for Venezuelans Crossing Border Unlawfully
In a bid to balance safe and legal pathways for migration, the US has announced the resumption of direct repatriation flights for Venezuelans who cross the border unlawfully and fail to establish a legal basis to remain in the country. This move, which reflects the Biden administration’s approach, comes as the Venezuelan government has agreed to take back deported migrants, according to a senior administration official.
Promptly removing individuals who arrived after July and are currently in federal custody, the US aims to enforce consequences for those attempting to cross the border irregularly. However, it is important to note that the Biden administration recently granted temporary protected status (TPS) to all Venezuelans who have lived in the US since before August, allowing them to stay in the country without fear of deportation. The administration rejects the notion that resuming deportation flights contradicts the decision to grant TPS status, highlighting that removals to countries with TPS designations have been a long-standing practice.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has emphasized that Venezuelans who arrived in the US after July 31, 2023, are not eligible for TPS protection and will be removed if they lack a legal basis to stay. The resumption of deportation flights follows discussions between the US, Mexico, Colombia, and Panama, signaling coordinated efforts to address irregular migration in the Western Hemisphere.
Recent data from US Customs and Border Protection revealed that approximately 6,500 migrants from Venezuela were encountered in a single day, making them the most common nationality among border crossers. The new deportation policy aims to impose consequences on those who unlawfully cross the border, as they are seen to have failed to utilize the lawful pathways created and expanded by the administration.
Some high-profile Democrats, such as Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and New York City Mayor Eric Adams, have called on President Biden to take further action on border management and asylum seeker transport. In a related development, the Biden administration waived federal laws to allow more border wall construction in Texas, which had been appropriated during the Trump administration. Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas clarified that there is no new administration policy regarding border walls and that the construction project is a legal obligation that the administration must follow.
As the US takes steps to address irregular migration and enforce consequences for illegal border crossings, it remains committed to providing safe and lawful pathways for migration, while also upholding the rule of law.
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