Rubio Warns Venezuela of Sanctions Over Deportation Refusal

Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Venezuela of “severe, and escalating sanctions” if it does not accept their repatriated citizens from the U.S. This statement reflects the Trump administration’s efforts to intensify deportations of Venezuelans and limit their legal status. Rubio highlighted Venezuela’s obligation to accept deportees and acknowledged cooperation with El Salvador in managing deported gang members.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Tuesday that Venezuela would face “severe, and escalating sanctions” unless it accepts its citizens who have been deported from the United States. This statement aligns with the Trump administration’s plans to intensify deportations of Venezuelans illegally residing in the U.S., along with establishing a temporary residency program for many of them, potentially resulting in loss of legal status.

Many Venezuelans currently protected in the U.S. fled due to the severe economic crisis caused by the authoritarian regime of President Nicolas Maduro. Rubio emphasized, “Venezuela is obligated to accept its repatriated citizens from the U.S. This is not an issue for debate or negotiation,” asserting that the U.S. will impose new sanctions if deportation flights continue to be delayed or avoided.

This ultimatum followed comments by Richard Grenell, special envoy for President Donald Trump, who indicated that Maduro’s government had initially agreed to accept repatriation flights for deported citizens. Rubio highlighted that Maduro’s agreement came after refusing to cooperate.

In a recent policy shift, Trump terminated a permit allowing Chevron to export oil from Venezuela, citing Maduro’s failure to create conditions for fair elections. The administration is also focused on deporting Venezuelan gang members, including a recent flight of 238 gang members to a high-security prison in El Salvador, despite legal challenges.

During a Fox News Radio interview, Rubio expressed gratitude to El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele for accepting Venezuelan migrants, stating, “Venezuela should be taking them, but they refuse to take them.” He praised Bukele’s willingness to assist by accepting these individuals for a fraction of the cost of housing them in U.S. prisons.

In summary, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued a stern warning to the Venezuelan government regarding the acceptance of deported citizens, linked to potential sanctions. The Trump administration seeks to enhance deportation efforts while cooperating with other nations, such as El Salvador, in managing deported migrants. The situation underscores ongoing tensions regarding immigration and international relations, particularly amidst Venezuela’s political turmoil.

Original Source: www.foxnews.com