DR Consulate Reopens · Repatriates Return

Under the direction of Consul General Héctor Vásquez, the consulate in Chacao Municipality, Caracas, normalized all services, including passport issuance and notarization, starting October 1.

Under the direction of Consul General Héctor Vásquez, all consular services, including passport issuance and notarization, have been normally resumed. However, appointments already made at the Bogota consulate in Colombia must be processed according to those procedures and cannot be transferred to the Caracas consulate.

The Dominican Republic is one of the main countries hosting approximately 100,000 Venezuelan migrants, and the reopening of the consulate is expected to be of great help to them.

A total of 353 Venezuelan nationals returned to their home country via the 174th and 175th repatriation flights from the U.S.

Among them was Carlos García, former mayor of Libertador Municipality in Mérida state and a political leader, who had been detained for eight months.

García claimed to have political asylum and a work permit when he was arrested in Cincinnati, U.S., on January 23.

The repatriates arrived at Barcelona Airport in Anzoátegui state and completed SAIME entry registration and medical examinations.

Garcés's legal team criticized the decision, claiming it was a retaliatory measure to protect federal agents.

Currently, Garcés has a bullet lodged in his spine and has been left untreated for 10 days, urgently requiring emergency surgery.

He entered the U.S. via the CBP One app in December 2023 but received a deportation order in absentia for failing to appear in immigration court.

Garcés has been charged with assaulting a federal agent and resisting arrest, facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted.