Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio threatened on Wednesday to impose additional sanctions on Venezuela if it does not agree to accept its citizens who were deported from the United States without further delay or excuses.
According to Qatar News Agency, Rubio emphasized on the X platform that Venezuela is obligated to accept its repatriated citizens from the US and asserted that this matter is not open for debate or negotiation. The Venezuelan government has yet to issue a response to these statements.
Rubio warned that unless the Maduro regime allows a consistent flow of deportation flights without further excuses or delays, the US will impose new, severe, and escalating economic sanctions. This marks a continuation of the US government's firm stance on immigration under President Donald Trump's administration.
Since taking office on January 20, President Trump has issued a series of executive orders aimed at tightening procedures for illegal immigration, including expediting the deportation of immigrants without legal status in the United States. Last February, Trump announced that the Venezuelan government had agreed to take back all undocumented Venezuelan migrants detained in the United States, with assurances from Venezuela that it would provide necessary transportation for their return.