The US asks Venezuelan migrants not to go to the border

USA warned on Thursday Venezuelan migrants who are on their way to the border with Mexico or that they are thinking of undertaking the journey to arrive illegally in this country, that they abandon the attempt because they will no longer be able to enter.

The warning was made by Blas Nuñez-Neto, Acting Undersecretary for Border and Immigration Policy at the Department of Homeland Security, a day after a joint announcement with the government of Mexico about a new program that seeks to stem the flow of tens of thousands of Venezuelans across the border.

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“The people who cross into Panama and Mexico they are not going to be eligible, to those who are on the move, I want to tell them clearly to stay where they are, not to enter Mexico and do not try to cross our border with Mexico or they will not be eligible for this legal process that has many benefits,” Nuñez-Neto said in a telephone press conference.

“We want to tell all Venezuelans who are contemplating such a dangerous journey or who are on the road today, not to continue north because they will not be able to enter the border with the United States,” emphasized.

Due to the political situation and the economic crisis that Venezuela is going through, it is estimated that more than seven million people have fled in search of better living conditions, the vast majority to Latin American countries. However, the migration of Venezuelans to the United States has increased considerably in recent years.

Recently, Venezuelans have surpassed Guatemalans and Hondurans to become the second nationality with the most detainees on the border with Mexico, after Mexicans. In August, Venezuelans were detained 25,349 times, a 43% increase over the 17,652 times in July and four times more than the 6,301 encounters in August 2021.

Under pressure from Washington, Mexico placed restrictions on air travel by Venezuelan migrants in January and from then on migration through the jungle of the Panamanian province of Darién, on the border with Colombia, increased.

So far in 2022, more than 151,000 people have crossed Panama through the jungle, most of them Venezuelans: 107,000. The figure is higher than all the Venezuelans who crossed in the previous year, some 133,000 according to the Panamanian government.

Nuñez-Neto said that some 3,000 migrants, the vast majority of whom are Venezuelans, pass through Panama every day.

In an attempt to curb their arrival, the Biden administration on Wednesday announced measures that penalize those who cross the border illegally and encourage legal arrival, a program similar to the one applied to Ukrainians after the Russian invasion. In the case of the Venezuelans, the plan was coordinated with Mexico and revealed almost simultaneously by both countries.

The United States will accept 24,000 Venezuelan migrants who find a financial sponsor, and Mexico will receive those who are expelled from the United States for having arrived without authorization.

Those who are approved will be able to enter through airports and will have a work permit for about two years, Nuñez-Neto said. You can start the process online by phone or computer from whatever country you are in, and it will be expedited. He explained that in some cases it could be approved in as little as a week.

Those who have been expelled in the last five years, who have crossed the border without authorization after the day of the announcement, who have entered Mexico or Panama after the announcement, or have permanent residence or dual nationality other than Venezuelan, have refugee status in another country, or are not vaccinated or have not complied with other public health requirements, US authorities said.

Shortly after the announcement of the program, numerous immigrant and refugee advocacy groups said that the offer of 24,000 humanitarian visas is not enough considering the delicate humanitarian situation in the South American nation and the number of Venezuelan migrants.

Nuñez-Neto said the program will be closely monitored and if it proves successful, that number could be increased, and even expanded to include other nationalities.

He explained that those Venezuelans who consider themselves vulnerable and fear for their lives can request asylum at the border as an exception to a provision known as Title 42, which suspends the right enshrined in international and US law to request asylum, arguing that prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Source: Elcomercio

Ronald Payne

I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.