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U.S. warns Venezuela to accept deportees or face escalating sanctions
Summary
The State Department spokesperson said Venezuela must accept repatriated Venezuelan nationals deported from the United States or the U.S. will impose "new, severe, and escalating sanctions." The spokesperson also said the State Department does not recognize Nicolás Maduro's government.
The U.S. warned Venezuela that it must accept repatriated Venezuelan nationals deported from the United States or it will face "new, severe, and escalating sanctions," the State Department said.
State Department spokesperson Tammy read a statement saying, "Venezuela is obligated to accept its repatriated citizens from The United States. This is not an issue for debate or negotiation" and that "we will impose new and more severe sanctions upon any failure to do so or delays." She added that the United States will enforce its immigration laws and deport illegally present non-citizens.
On recognition: Tammy answered a reporter's question directly: when asked whether using the AEA for deportations implied recognition of Nicolás Maduro, she said, "No," and reiterated, "it is a regime that we do not recognize."
Context and related actions: The spokesperson said the AEA proclamation is "currently being challenged in court" and declined to comment on litigation. She also said deportation flights to other countries and regions will continue, and referenced a prior announcement that a repatriation flight to Venezuela had been agreed to by Venezuela (reported by a special envoy), but warned that acceptance must be timely.
Other notes: Tammy said the U.S. thanked partners in the region and that the U.S. has worked with El Salvador to return certain MS-13 members as part of broader removals (see related article). She did not provide specifics about the number of deportations to Venezuela pending acceptance or the timing of new sanctions.
Ending: The State Department presented a firm public ultimatum: accept repatriated nationals or face escalating sanctions. Legal challenges to the underlying AEA proclamation were noted but not detailed.
