Venezuela says US abruptly stops deportation flights to the country

A sudden US policy change leaves Venezuelan officials questioning the next steps. Why did Washington stop sending citizens back—and what happens now?

, and Administrator

2025 December 12 . 11:38 PM

1 min read

In this image there are few flights on the runway, there are few poles and cables and some clouds... — In this image there are few flights on the runway, there are few poles and cables and some clouds in the sky.

Venezuela says US abruptly stops deportation flights to the country

The Venezuelan government has claimed that the US has halted deportation flights to the country. Officials in Caracas announced the suspension on Friday, describing the move as a unilateral decision by Washington. The last recorded flights took place in October 2025 under the Trump administration’s migration policies.

According to Venezuela’s national aviation authority, the US government stopped all deportation flights without prior agreement. Caracas stated it remained open to receiving its citizens, despite the sudden change in policy.

Venezuela maintains it is prepared to accept deported citizens, even as the US disputes the suspension claim. The conflicting statements create uncertainty over future deportation procedures. The last confirmed flights took place nearly a year ago, under a different administration’s policies.