U.S. in talks with Mexico and other countries to facilitate return of Venezuelan migrants 

The Biden administration is engaging in talks with Mexico and other Latin American countries to find a way to return Venezuelan migrants to their home country, a senior U.S. official said on Tuesday, Reuters reported. 

"We're in discussion with Mexico and other countries to see what can be done in that sense," said Blas Nunez-Neto, the acting assistant secretary for U.S. border and immigration policy.

The talks come after the U.S. and Mexico reached an agreement in October to address the large number of Venezuelan migrants attempting to enter the United States. Under the new agreement, U.S. authorities will send Venezuelan migrants to Mexico where they will be able to apply for legal entry to the country in U.S. consulates through a humanitarian program. 

Before the agreement, Venezuelans could not be returned to their home country due to a lack of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Venezuela, and no third country was willing to accept them. 

"We're looking to see how we can have a safe, orderly, and functional process," Nunez-Neto said. "We don't currently have a relationship with the government of Venezuela, but we do have the capacity to carry out repatriations to Venezuela."

According to a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Luis Miranda, the discussions with other nations are aimed at continuing the humanitarian program proposed with Mexico. 

Miranda added that the program has been “very successful,” resulting in significant decreases of encounters of Venezuelan nationals at our borders."

Nunez-Neto did not specify which other countries the administration was talking to apart from Mexico.