Venezuelan Migrants Unswayed by U.S. Decision to Reinstate Deportation Flights

This past Friday, at the frontier of Panama’s Darien forest, a significant number of Venezuelan migrants were seen waiting for transportation to convey them through Panama and into Costa Rica, from where they intend to proceed northwards.

Annie Carrillo, a 38-year-old Venezuelan national journeying with her Colombian spouse and another companion, revealed that the trio had navigated the perilous and ungoverned Colombian jungle in a span of three days, after remitting $350 each for a guide’s services. When informed of the United States’ forthcoming plans to recommence deportation flights to Venezuela, Carrillo expressed disillusionment.

“People don’t leave their homeland out of choice; they leave because they have fundamental needs that are unmet in their home country,” she said, visibly emotional.

The U.S. administration anticipates that the prospect of deportation may serve as a deterrent for Venezuelans contemplating unauthorized entry into the United States. Instead, they may opt for lawful routes, such as applying for asylum through the online appointment system. Nevertheless, certain migrants conveyed that this would not deter them from pursuing their journey.

Over the past ten years, Venezuela has been plagued by political instability, economic decline, and a humanitarian crisis, leading to the emigration of approximately 7.3 million individuals. Most have taken refuge in neighboring Latin American nations, although an increasing number have been migrating to the United States in recent years.

Earlier this week, the Biden administration underscored the severity of humanitarian conditions in Venezuela as a rationale for extending temporary protected status to Venezuelan migrants. Despite this, the administration now considers conditions in Venezuela to be not sufficiently dire to halt deportations.

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistant Secretary for Border and Immigration Policy, Blas Núñez-Neto, stated that repatriations are already being conducted to countries that share humanitarian crises similar to Venezuela’s.

“Direct repatriations are not only being conducted to Venezuela but also to nations with complex humanitarian situations, like Haiti and Cuba,” Núñez-Neto informed the media. “What we are announcing complies with both domestic laws and international obligations.”

According to U.S. Border Patrol statistics, encounters with Venezuelan migrants along the southwestern U.S. border totaled 22,000 in August, nearly twice the figure for July, but slightly less than the 25,000 recorded in August of the prior year. Venezuelans account for about 60% of those crossing the perilous Darien Gap this year, but their numbers are still eclipsed by migrants from Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala at the U.S. border. This past Friday, a tragic accident occurred in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, resulting in at least 18 migrant deaths and several injuries.

Núñez-Neto noted that over 130,000 Venezuelans had legally entered the U.S. within the last year through authorized channels such as CBP One and humanitarian parole.

Annie Carrillo remains uncertain about whether to await an asylum appointment or to risk apprehension by U.S. border officials. She noted that acquiring an appointment through CBP One could take in excess of three months—a significant delay for migrants who typically expend all their resources just to reach the border.

Patricia Andrade, a co-founder of the Venezuelan Roots humanitarian organization in Miami, expressed skepticism regarding the feasibility of mass deportations to Venezuela, given the thousands of migrants arriving daily at the southern U.S. border.

Andrade asserted that Venezuelans are fleeing their homeland out of sheer necessity, and this will not cease anytime soon. “As long as the situation in Venezuela remains unresolved, people will continue to arrive,” she said.

In Lajas Blancas, Panama, near the boundary of the Darien forest, Jhonny Zambrano, a 20-year-old Venezuelan migrant, waited with his family, unsure of their next steps upon reaching the U.S. border. He indicated that, if deported, he would make repeated attempts until successful.

Zambrano, a former student in Venezuela, stated that the country’s economic turmoil made it unfeasible for him to continue his education, even forcing him to forgo meals while at school. “What options do I have back in my country?” he questioned. “If deported, I would attempt the journey again in order to work and advance my family’s prospects.”

The report originates from Miami, contributed by Salomon.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Venezuelan migrants

More about Venezuelan migrants

• U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Immigration Policies
• Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans
• Humanitarian Crisis in Venezuela
• U.S. Border Patrol Statistics on Migrant Encounters
• Venezuelan Roots: Humanitarian Assistance Organization
• Risks and Dangers of Migrating through the Darien Gap
• U.S. Asylum Application Process and CBP One
• Economic and Political Climate in Venezuela