Caracas
Cnn
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An altogether Venezuelan who had been kept in police custody after the government after his parents was sent back to Venezuela.
Maikeelys Antonella Espinoza Bernal arrived at Simón Bolívar international airport on a repatriation flight from the United States on Wednesday.
The Venezuelan first lady Cilia Flores carried the 2 -year -old child in her arms while civil servants announced the return of the girl to journalists gathered to the airport.
“Today, we have a big victory,” said Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello.
Venezuela demanded that the United States have been making the girl for weeks, accusing US officials of the kidnapping.
The American Department of Internal Security (DHS) previously denied allegation, arguing that the family had been separated in order to protect Maikeelys from their parents, which they accused without proof of being part of the criminal group Tren of Aragua (ADD).
Maikely’s mother rejected this assertion.
In March, the United States expelled Father Maker Espinoza-Escalona in a notorious prison in El Salvador, according to the Venezuelan government. Mother Yorelys Bernal was then expelled on a flight to Venezuela without her daughter.
Wednesday, the daughter found her mother and grandmother at the presidential palace of Caracas. State television showed tears of joy in Bernal, shouting as she was holding her daughter firmly in her arms.
President Nicolás Maduro said Venezuelan officials coordinated with lawyers and rights for the United States to guarantee the girl’s return.
“I must thank the ambassador for equity Richard Grenell, Special Envoy of (American) Donald Trump, for his efforts. And with ambassador Richard Grenell, thanks President Donald Trump,” he said.
“There have been and there will be differences, but it is possible with the blessing of God to move forward.”
CNN contacted the DHS and the Venezuela business unit of the US State Department for more information.
The toddler and his parents entered the United States in May 2024 to seek asylum, according to a document from the Court filed by legal defense groups.
After their arrival, the couple was put in immigration detention while their daughter was placed in the care of the Resettlement of Refugees (Orr), said the father in an oath.
In July, he received an expulsion order under the Biden administration. Between October and March, the couple had weekly visits in person with their daughter, said Espinoza.
On March 29, Espinoza was sent to a naval base of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where the DHS transferred migrants, according to court documents deposited by his lawyers.
They said that he had been transported by plane the next day to the famous Mega-Prison of Cecot d’El Salvador, which the United States uses to have hundreds of Venezuelan migrants that he accuses of being violent gang members, although he did not provide solid evidence to support this statement.
The mother of the toddler was expelled shortly after sending her father to Salvador. She was forced to return to her country on a flight without her 2 -year -old child, said Venezuela.
The girl was held under the custody of Orr, DHS saying: “We do not allow this child to be abused and to continue to be exposed to a criminal activity which endangers its security.”
Bernal previously said that she suspected that the American authorities have linked her to Tren of Aragua because of her tattoos, which, according to her, only record the birth dates of her family.
This is a story in development and will be updated.
