The United States opens the application process for immigration permits for 24,000 Venezuelans

USA The application process to access the 24,000 temporary immigration permits for Venezuelans began this Tuesday, as part of the pact closed with Mexico to reduce migrant crossings at the border.

“We hope that this effort will reduce the record numbers of Venezuelans seeking to enter the United States irregularly.”explained the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on its website.

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The government of Joe Biden announced last week a new migration plan by which it will offer 24,000 permits for Venezuelans but will return Mexico to all those who cross the border irregularly. The United States has already started deportations at the border.

The program, called “Process for Venezuelans”offers those who have a sponsor within USA a permit to travel to the country by plane and stay in the country for a temporary period of two years during which they will be able to access a work permit.

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The United States will only approve 24,000 permits of this typea number lower than the number of Venezuelans who crossed the border with Mexico in the month of September alone: ​​25,521.

The decision to expand the number of beneficiaries of the program will depend on the secretary of National Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, the agency reported.

NEED A SPONSOR

The process to apply for the permit is done online and it is the sponsor who must initiate the application, demonstrating that they have sufficient financial resources to support the potential beneficiary for a period of two years.

The sponsors must also have legal status in the United States.which includes political asylum and Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

Both recipients and applicants must go through a security background check.

Excluded from the program are Venezuelans who have been deported from the United States in the last five years, who have irregularly crossed the border with Mexico, or who have also entered Panama or Mexico irregularly before October 19.

People who have dual nationality or permanent residence in another country or minors traveling without a companion cannot obtain the permit either.

RETURNS BEGIN

Hundreds of Venezuelans have already been returned to Mexico since Washington announced the new measures last week, which have been criticized by migrant rights groups.

“This relief program only benefits the least vulnerable Venezuelans – those who have ties to the US, valid documents and can pay for job applications – and leaves many others stumbling,” Yael Schacher, director for the Americas, told EFE. of the organization Refugees International.

The United States has seen an increase in the number of Venezuelans crossing the border with Mexico in the last one year: between October 2021 and August 2022, more than 150,000 Venezuelans have been arrested on the US southern border, compared to the 50,499 in the same period last year.

Because the United States does not have diplomatic relations with Venezuela, immigration authorities could not deport to Venezuela on flights those who were arrested crossing the border.

Now, with a new agreement, Mexico has agreed to receive returned Venezuelans in its territory.

The Biden government justifies this measure as an implementation of Title 42, a public health regulation imposed at the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic and inherited from the Administration of former President Donald Trump (2017-2021).

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.