A Conviasa flight with repatriated Venezuelan migrants from Mexico lands at Simón Bolívar International Airport on December 3, 2025. Photo: X/@minjusticia_ve.
Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—Venezuela received 1,000 repatriated nationals from the US this week through the Return to the Homeland Plan, with four flights landing at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, La Guaira state.
Flight 94 arrived on Monday, December 3, from Mexico, operated by Venezuela’s national airline Conviasa. It carried 304 returning citizens, noticeably including 140 minors.
Also on Monday, Flight 95 arrived from Texas, United States. The flight, operated by the US airline Eastern, repatriated 265 Venezuelans: 231 men, 31 women, and 3 minors.
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Flight 96 landed on Thursday, from Santa Lucía, Mexico, operated by Conviasa. This group of 259 returnees was also notable for bringing back 104 minors.
The final arrival of the week was Flight 97 on Friday, from Arizona, United States, operated by Eastern. It brought 172 nationals back to Venezuela: 141 men, 26 women, and 5 minors.
Foreign minister reaffirms sovereignty as repatriation total nears 20,000
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil was present to receive the returnees on Wednesday. He noted that these operations have brought the total number of Venezuelans from the US to 18,354, with 14,407 returning directly from the United States. However, by Friday, the total reached 18,753.
He reiterated Venezuela’s sovereignty over its airspace and the government’s commitment to peace. In a pointed remark, Gil stated, “A plane with a US registration requested permission to enter Venezuelan territory from US aeronautical authorities a couple of days ago, and President Nicolás Maduro Moros, through the National Institute of Civil Aeronautics (INAC), immediately granted the authorization for the aircraft to enter our airspace and land.” This action stands in contrast to recent US alerts alleging danger in Venezuelan airspace.
Ongoing flights despite US pressure
These returns continue amid a backdrop of sustained pressure from the United States. The process stems from an agreement signed in February between Caracas and Washington, which persists despite the absence of diplomatic relations and the escalating US hostilities. These include an unprecedented US military operation launched in August under the pretext of a “war on drugs,” involving lethal strikes on boats in the Caribbean, labeled by UN experts as extrajudicial killings.
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These latest returns occurred despite recent attempts by the United States to disrupt international flight operations over Venezuela, part of a broader campaign of regime change. Two weeks ago, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an alert warning airlines about the “danger” of flying in Venezuelan airspace—a danger posed by the United States’s own policies. Shortly after, US President Donald Trump posted a social media message falsely claiming that the Venezuelan airspace was closed.
Root causes of migration
The majority of Venezuelan migrants originally left their country after being affected by the severe economic crisis between 2015 and 2020, a direct consequence of illegal US sanctions. Following a massive smear campaign and incidents of xenophobic violence in the US—falsely alleging that the migrants were criminals—the US government began large-scale detentions and deportations, often targeting individuals with no criminal records and pending migration cases.
Comprehensive aid for returnees
All repatriated migrants are received under the protocols of the Return to the Homeland Plan. The government provides immediate healthcare, psychological support, and legal and socioeconomic assistance to facilitate reintegration. The plan, launched in 2018, has the aim of ensuring the dignified and safe return of Venezuelans who are victims of xenophobia and exploitation abroad.
Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff
OT/JRE/SC
