Washington DC [US], March 20 (ANI): US Department of State Spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated on Wednesday that White House Secretary of State Marco Rubio has mandated the Venezuelan government to take back its illegally deported citizens.

Bruce warned that Venezuela's failure to accept deported individuals would lead to increased sanctions and tariffs.

'Secretary Rubio made clear yesterday that Venezuela is obligated to accept its repatriated citizens from the United States. This is not an issue for debate or negotiation, nor does it merit any reward unless the Maduro regime accepts a consistent flow of deportation flights, without further excuses or delays, the US will impose new, severe, and escalating sanctions,' she said.

https://x.com/SecRubio/status/1902102932570751007

Referencing a statement by President Donald Trump, Bruce linked the Venezuelan government to criminal activities.

'As President Trump made clear in his proclamation, TDA is closely associated and aligned with and indeed has infiltrated the Maduro regime. Maduro maintains close ties to regime-sponsored narco-terrorists. The Maduro regime must accept back all Venezuelan aliens deported by the US, especially their murderers, rapists, criminals, human traffickers, and other illegally present criminals in the US. End of discussion,' she added.

Bruce also stressed that the US expects all countries to accept their deported citizens and warned of consequences for non-compliance.

'We will impose more and new sanctions on any failure to do so or delays. Let me be clear- the US Government will enforce the law of the US. We will deport illegal aliens from our country and we will make clear that we expect countries to accept their nationals illegally present in the US,' she said.

She further expressed gratitude to international partners assisting the US in identifying illegal residents.

'We thank our partners in the region and around the world who are partnering with us to stop illegal immigration and combat vicious transnational crime. These efforts help all of us by making our entire region safer and more secure,' she said.

Meanwhile, the White House said that Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel announced the capture of another fugitive from its 'Ten Most Wanted' list -- initiating the extradition of a key senior leader of the brutal MS-13 gang, Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales, from Mexico to face charges in the United States. Roman-Bardales was wanted 'for his alleged role in ordering numerous acts of violence against civilians and rival gang members, as well as his role in drug distribution and extortion schemes in the United States and El Salvador.'

https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/1902455066235212150

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'When you let good cops be good cops, this is what happens,' Patel said in his post on X. (ANI)