President Nicolás Maduro has expressed his concern over the recent deportation of 238 Venezuelans by the administration of President Donald Trump. These individuals are accused of belonging to the Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua, classified as a terrorist organization along with six Mexican cartels.
In a video posted by the President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, it shows how members of Tren de Aragua were received at the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador. They were forced to kneel, shaved, and imprisoned despite not having committed crimes in El Salvador.
The President of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Jorge Rodríguez, has stated that any unjustly deported Venezuelan will be supported by his government in seeking their release. It was mentioned that the deportation of these citizens could complicate Venezuela's efforts to lift the sanctions imposed in exchange for cooperation in Trump's migrant deportation policy.
The dispute between the United States and Venezuela also raises concerns about the continuity of Chevron's operations in the South American country, as this company is responsible for a significant percentage of crude oil production in Venezuela, representing a significant part of its economy.
Donald Trump has taken steps to accelerate mass deportations by invoking a century-old law that is rarely used. The White House has stated that the president has the constitutional authority to direct foreign affairs and make decisions regarding immigration. Despite Trump's actions, no details have been provided on how the deported Venezuelans were identified as members of Tren de Aragua or on the bilateral agreement between the United States and El Salvador to deport these citizens.
