Venezuela Receives Over 20,000 Repatriated Citizens

Why this is here: The “Vuelta a la Patria” program has completed 145 flights between Venezuela and the United States as of May 15, facilitating the return of over 20,000 citizens.

The Venezuelan government received 162 citizens arriving from Miami, United States on May 15, bringing the total number of repatriated people to over 20,000 since February 2025. The returnees—130 men, 25 women, and 7 children—arrived at Simón Bolívar International Airport near Caracas.

Officials from various police organizations welcomed the group and provided medical and emotional evaluations. The repatriations occur through the “Vuelta a la Patria” program, established following an agreement between Venezuela and the United States in January 2025. This program has facilitated 145 flights.

Tomás Páez, a sociologist coordinating the Observatorio de la Diáspora Venezolana, estimates over 9.1 million Venezuelans currently live abroad, making it one of the largest diasporas worldwide. The increased migration measures following Donald Trump’s arrival in power contribute to the conditions prompting returns. The true number of Venezuelans migrating remains difficult to determine.