Washington, D.C., Feb. 1, 2025 — The Biden administration’s immigration policies have been significantly reversed as the Trump administration expands its efforts to deport undocumented migrants, with new agreements allowing deportation flights to Venezuela and high-priority detainees expected to be transferred to Guantánamo Bay.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that deportations to Venezuela have resumed following a diplomatic agreement between Washington and Caracas. The deal, which was facilitated by U.S. officials last month, includes the return of Venezuelan nationals who entered the United States illegally.
Additionally, the Pentagon has authorized deportation flights for individuals deemed “high-priority” to be sent to Guantánamo Bay, where they will await further legal proceedings. The policy has drawn criticism from human rights organizations, who argue that the facility’s history as a detention center for terrorism suspects raises concerns about due process and treatment of detainees.
The Department of Homeland Security has not specified how many individuals will be included in the Guantánamo flights, but officials say the measure is intended to address “high-risk cases.”
Activist groups and immigration attorneys have vowed to challenge the policy in court.