# Venezuelan migrant repatriation and diaspora policy

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/venezuelan-migrant-repatriation-and-diaspora-policy
> Updated: 2026-10-07T23:59:04.000Z. Sources: 17. Developments: 2.

Venezuela continues to manage the repatriation of its citizens through the ‘Gran Misión Vuelta a la Patria’ program. Under a bilateral migration agreement established between Caracas and Washington in January 2025, two recent flights (numbered 176 and 177) delivered 387 Venezuelan citizens from the United States to the General José Antonio Anzoátegui International Airport in Barcelona.

The use of the Barcelona airport instead of the main terminal in Maiquetía is a continued response to infrastructure damage at Simón Bolívar International Airport caused by seismic activity on June 24. While repatriation flights were temporarily suspended following these earthquakes, operations resumed on August 3.

Upon arrival, repatriated individuals undergo identity verification, medical checkups, and socioeconomic evaluations to facilitate social reintegration. This process follows discussions between UNHCR High Commissioner Barham Salih and acting President Delcy Rodríguez regarding migrant return and reintegration efforts in the wake of recent natural disasters.

## Claims

- 387 Venezuelan migrants arrived in two repatriation flights from the United States. (corroborated by 7 sources)
- The flights landed at General José Antonio Anzoátegui International Airport in Barcelona, Anzoátegui. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Mervin Maldonado, president of the Gran Misión Vuelta a la Patria program, confirmed the arrival via Telegram. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- The repatriations are part of a bilateral migration agreement between Venezuela and the United States reached in January 2025. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- Maiquetía International Airport suffered damage from earthquakes on June 24, necessitating alternative landing sites. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- Repatriation flights were temporarily suspended following earthquakes on June 24 and resumed on August 3. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- UNHCR High Commissioner Barham Salih met with Venezuelan acting president Delcy Rodríguez to discuss migrant reintegration. (corroborated by 4 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-07: Venezuela repatriates 387 citizens from the United States in two flights

387 Venezuelan migrants returned from the United States in two repatriation flights, landing in Barcelona, Anzoátegui, following a bilateral agreement and recent earthquake-related airport disruptions.

15 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuela-receives-387-migrants-in-repatriation-flights-from-the-us

### 2026-09-18: Venezuela manages migrant returns and diaspora policy needs

Venezuela has received 379 deported migrants from the US via the ‘Vuelta a la Patria’ plan, amid calls to create a formal Ministry of the Diaspora to support the nation's 7.9 million citizens living abroad.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuela-manages-migrant-returns-and-diaspora-policy-needs

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Cite as: Venezuelan migrant repatriation and diaspora policy. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/venezuelan-migrant-repatriation-and-diaspora-policy