Venezuela has resumed accepting U.S. deportation flights after a brief pause triggered by President Trump’s recent airspace closure declaration. On Wednesday, a flight carrying 266 Venezuelan migrants departed Phoenix, Arizona, and landed safely near Caracas, marking one of two deportation flights that arrived the same day at Simón Bolívar International Airport.

According to officials, Venezuela halted the return program last week but restored operations at Washington’s request, resuming a twice-weekly schedule operated by U.S. government contractors, including Eastern Airlines. The return of these flights represents a significant shift for the Maduro government, which for years resisted accepting deportees while tensions with the United States escalated over issues including drug trafficking ties and border security.

More than 13,000 Venezuelan nationals have been repatriated so far in 2025 under the reinstated program, reflecting growing cooperation between the two countries on immigration enforcement despite ongoing political friction. The latest flights underscore the Trump administration’s broader effort to manage migrant flows and expedite removals amid rising pressure on the U.S. immigration system.