According to announcements from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the US Department of State, the US government is set to resume deporting Venezuelan nationals unlawfully residing within US borders. The officials of Venezuela have agreed to accept the return of their citizens. Nevertheless, queries surround the definition of these Venezuelan “authorities”, as the US State Department only acknowledges the legitimacy of the 2015 National Assembly in the Government of Venezuela [Details][Details].
These developments are further complicated by the contentious nature of Venezuela’s leadership. The US Government does not officially recognise Nicolás Maduro, the de facto sovereign of Venezuela. Maduro is under individual sanction by the US and there is an arrest warrant issued against him based in New York on federal drug trafficking charges [Details][Details].
In 2019, the 2015 National Assembly endorsed Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s president. However, his government was later dissolved by the same assembly in the late 2022. Guaidó, who has been living in the United States since the start of 2022, now has an arrest warrant issued against him by the Venezuelan government [Details][Details].
The DHS argues that the decision to recommence deportations is harmonious with the Biden Administration’s ongoing efforts for humane, safe, and orderly immigration enforcement, and aims to process individuals fairly and swiftly. The Biden administration is tasked with implementing the Los Angeles Declaration which focuses on regulation of migration pathways and promoting competent management of migration [Details].
In light of Venezuela’s “increased instability and lack of safety”, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas recently announced an extension on the ‘Temporary Protected Status’ (TPS) for Venezuelan nationals currently living in the United States. Furthermore, recent reports reveal that the Biden administration has resumed building a wall at the US’s southern border [Details][Details].