Overview
- An Eastern Airlines charter from Phoenix landed at Maiquetía outside Caracas with 231 deportees, the first direct return since December 10.
- Venezuelan officials say Washington unilaterally halted direct deportation transfers in mid‑December after months of regularized returns under bilateral arrangements.
- Transfers were disrupted as U.S. forces carried out lethal strikes on boats suspected of drug smuggling in international waters, including vessels the U.S. said departed Venezuela.
- Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores appeared in Manhattan federal court on January 5 and pleaded not guilty to narcotics‑related charges following their capture in Caracas.
- CIA Director John Ratcliffe met acting leader Delcy Rodríguez in Caracas this week, while opposition figure María Corina Machado said Venezuela is beginning a “true transition” with U.S. support.