Venezuelan Official Dismisses Claims of Gang Affiliations Among Deported Nationals

In a recent statement, Venezuela's Interior Minister expressed confidence that none of the Venezuelans deported by the United States to El Salvador are affiliated with the Tren de Aragua criminal organization. This assertion comes amid U.S. claims that these deportations were necessitated by the individuals' connections to the gang, which has been labeled a terrorist entity by Washington.

The Interior Minister, speaking on a podcast, asserted that he possesses detailed information about the deportees sourced from both U.S. media and his own investigations. He emphasized that none of the deported individuals are linked to the now-dismantled Tren de Aragua.

Previously, the U.S. government, under the Trump administration, utilized a rarely invoked wartime law to expedite the deportation of over two hundred Venezuelans, claiming they were connected to the infamous gang, which has garnered a reputation for serious criminal activities including human trafficking and contract killings. Despite a temporary legal injunction against these deportations, the U.S. proceeded with the removal of 137 individuals under this wartime provision, sending them to an anti-terrorism facility in El Salvador.

Families and attorneys have been actively seeking information regarding the whereabouts of the deported individuals, many of whom have become unreachable since their deportation. Venezuelan authorities have stated that only a small number of those deported have ongoing legal matters in Venezuela, with the Interior Minister noting that out of the 920 migrants returned since February, just 16 are still entangled in legal issues.

Relations between Caracas and Washington have been strained over the issue of deportation flights. The U.S. recently accused Venezuela of misrepresenting facts regarding the repatriation of deportees, while a Venezuelan lawmaker has alleged that the U.S. has obstructed direct repatriation flights from American soil to Venezuela, a service that Venezuelan officials are prepared to reinstate.

In a related development, the Canadian government announced sanctions against eight senior Venezuelan officials, citing accusations of human rights abuses and actions that undermine democratic processes within the country. Venezuelan officials have condemned these sanctions as absurd and politically motivated, suggesting that they are aimed at aligning Canada with U.S. strategies against Venezuela.