US deportation flights to Venezuela paused after Trump says airspace 'closed'

President Donald Trump‘s statement that the airspace over Venezuela is “closed” has resulted in the suspension of deportation flights from the United States, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry said.

Trump issued a warning to pilots on Saturday morning that the airspace “above and surrounding” Venezuela is now “closed in its entirety.” The surprising announcement was met with condemnation from the Venezuela government, which called it an “illegal” and “immoral act of aggression” in a statement that included an appeal to the United Nations as well as a vow to respond “with all the strength granted by international law.”