WILLEMSTAD - Curaçao released 21 Venezuelans for the first time last night who had entered the country illegally and were detained in the former Koraal Specht prison. The official reason is that there is no longer any prospect of expulsion.

The Venezuelans cannot go back to their own country, because Venezuela has closed its borders and nobody can enter the country anymore.

Venezuelan President Maduro closed the borders with the Dutch Caribbean islands as a retaliatory measure against Curaçao on February 19, because opposition leader Guaidó was recognized as interim president. Moreover, Curaçao released its territory to the United States as a humanitarian hub to bring relieve to Venezuela.

In the beginning, Venezuela still allowed illegal countrymen who were arrested to be sent back via an air bridge between Willemstad and Caracas. Since this week that is no longer possible.

The police in Curaçao fears a boom in Venezuelans, now that they are no longer being detained and sent back. The first 17 arrived yesterday.