Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello condemned the absence of children on the latest flight, accusing the U.S. of continuing its imperialist policy of family separations.

Venezuela welcomed another flight of citizens deported from the United States on Friday as part of President Nicolás Maduro’s Return to the Homeland Plan. This marks the 18th repatriation flight, arriving from Honduras with 183 Venezuelan nationals.

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The Venezuelan government has intensified efforts to ensure the safe return of its citizens, emphasizing the right of families to remain united. However, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello condemned the absence of children on the latest flight, accusing the U.S. of continuing its imperialist policy of family separations.

Ongoing Disputes Over Family Reunification

Cabello denounced the case of baby Maikelys Espinoza, whose mother was recently deported while her father was detained in El Salvador—allegedly without evidence—on accusations of ties to the defunct Tren de Aragua criminal group.

“The U.S. response—refusing to return children—is pure arrogance,” Cabello stated. “We demand not only the return of our children but also of all Venezuelans being held under inhumane conditions, including in detention camps in El Salvador.”

He also highlighted the case of a 17-year-old girl who arrived separately in the morning, while her two younger siblings remained in U.S. custody. According to Cabello, there are at least 30,000 reported cases of Venezuelan children separated from their parents, though no official figures exist.

Logistical Challenges and Political Accusations

The minister praised Venezuelan airline Conviasa for its role in repatriations but criticized U.S. authorities for inconsistent deportations. “They provide lists of 200 migrants, yet far fewer arrive—proof of their disorganized and cruel approach,” he said.

Cabello placed direct blame on U.S.-aligned figures, particularly opposition leader María Corina Machado, for supporting policies that harm Venezuelan migrants. “If any harm comes to these children, the responsibility falls on her and those who endorse these sanctions,” he asserted.

Broader Condemnations

The minister also condemned the U.S. detention facility at Guantánamo Bay, calling it a torture center and vowing that Venezuela would not abandon its citizens held there.

Earlier in the day, a separate flight from Mexico brought 174 deportees, including 76 women and eight children. The government reiterated its demand for the return of complete families, stressing that the family is the homeland.

The Fight for Maikelys and Others Continues

Cabello framed the campaign for baby Maikelys’s return as part of a larger struggle. “Her homecoming will begin to heal the pain the U.S. has inflicted on Venezuela,” he said, pledging to persist in efforts to reunite all separated families.

President Maduro’s government stresses that its repatriation program – unique in its scope – prioritizes dignity and reintegration, in stark contrast to U.S. deportation practices.

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