More than 300 deported Venezuelans arrive home from US

BOGOTA/ISTANBUL

Some 318 Venezuelan irregular migrants deported by the United States arrived in their home country Thursday.

A flight carrying the migrants, including 142 children, departed from Mexico and landed at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia.

They will undergo health checks and legal procedures before being sent to their homes.

Venezuelan officials announced that the number of migrants deported from the US and returned to the country has now exceeded 3,000.

Authorities said in a statement that the migrants were "arbitrarily" deported by the US.

All Venezuelans will be admitted to the country safely and with dignity under the “Back to the Homeland” plan, the statement added.