The Justice Department asked a federal judge to delay a deadline requiring the return of deported Venezuelans, citing rapidly changing conditions following the U.S. military apprehension of Nicolás Maduro.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Justice Department has requested a one-week delay of a federal court deadline requiring the return of deported Venezuelan nationals to the United States, arguing that the recent U.S. military operation resulting in the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has dramatically altered conditions on the ground.
The request comes as the department faces a Monday deadline imposed by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who ordered the government to either facilitate the return of the deported Venezuelans or provide them with hearings that meet constitutional due process requirements, according to reporting by the Washington Examiner.
The individuals at the center of the dispute were deported in March 2025 to a large prison complex in El Salvador due to alleged ties to the Tren de Aragua criminal organization. They were later transferred to Venezuela as part of a prisoner exchange.
In a court filing submitted Sunday night, the Justice Department said the deadline should be extended because the weekend military operation had caused “substantial changes” inside Venezuela. In the filing, first reported publicly through a social media post, the department said additional time was needed to assess available options.
“Over the weekend, the United States apprehended Nicolas Maduro,” the DOJ wrote. “As a result, the situation on the ground in Venezuela has changed dramatically. Defendants thus need additional time to determine the feasibility of various proposals. Defendants therefore request a 7-day extension to evaluate and determine what remedies are possible.”
Judge Boasberg has not yet ruled on the request.
Maduro, now detained in New York City and scheduled to appear in federal court on Monday, had previously expressed support for the deported Venezuelans while they were held in El Salvador. He referred to them publicly as “kidnapped brothers” and demanded their return to Venezuela.
Following the prisoner exchange, many of the former detainees were reportedly released inside Venezuela. Their current whereabouts remain unclear, and it is uncertain what legal status or custody arrangements would apply in light of Maduro’s arrest and the rapidly shifting political and security situation in the country.
The Justice Department said the requested delay is necessary to evaluate how those developments affect the court’s order and what steps, if any, are feasible under the new circumstances.
Original article
Comments