TEHRAN (Tasnim) - The United States has sent 177 deported Venezuelan migrants from the Washington-controlled military base in Guantanamo to Venezuela.
- Other Media news -The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed it transported the Venezuelans to Honduras on Thursday.
Venezuelan authorities took custody of the deportees from Soto Cano a joint US-Honduras military airbase before flying them to Caracas on a flag carrier Conviasa flight.
Venezuelas Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello was at the airport when the plane landed, and boarded the aircraft to welcome the arrivals.
President Nicolas Maduro said the handover was the result of a direct request from his government to the US and added that his countrymen were rescued.
A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security said among those released were 126 individuals with criminal charges or convictions, out of which 80 were allegedly affiliated with Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal organization. The remaining 51 had no criminal history, Al Jazeera reported.
Following this transfer on Thursday, no more migrant detainees remain at the naval base, the spokesperson said.
