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Dojaquez-Torres argued that attention stems from the increase in Venezuelans attempting to immigrate to the U.S. in recent years as its political environment worsens under President Nicolás Maduro's authoritarian rule.

On March 15, Trump issued a proclamation asserting that the gang Tren de Aragua is a foreign terrorist organization that is “closely aligned with, and indeed has infiltrated, the Maduro regime.”

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro described the flights as a chance to "rescue and free migrants from prisons in the US".

However, Maduro said on 8 March that the US administration's decision to revoke the licence of oil giant Chevron to operate in Venezuela had created "a little problem".

The following day, Maduro ordered his government to "step up the action needed to guarantee return flights for detained migrants".