In recent months, illegal immigrant deportations from the United States have emerged as a serious humanitarian and economic problem for Latin America, especially for countries like Venezuela with eroded democracy and serious economic issues.
Following the expulsion of 177 Venezuelan migrants from the United States to their home country, the complexity of the case has prompted serious concerns about the impact on those targeted and the long-term ramifications for both countries.
The political background of the Venezuelan migration crisis
According to a Statista estimate dated September 2023, at least 545,200 Venezuelans migrated to the US.
In recent years, these numbers might have doubled.
Driven by economic, political, and social crises, millions of Venezuelans have chosen to emigrate during the two terms of President Nicolás Maduro, who first took office in 2013 and assumed a controversial third term on January 10.
His new term is followed by widespread allegations of electoral fraud, casting further shadows over his leadership and prompting serious concerns about the country’s future.
In the wake of the disputed elections held on July 28, opposition candidate Edmundo González and prominent leader María Corina Machado have asserted that they won with 70% of the vote.
However, the National Electoral Council failed to release official results, leading to skepticism both domestically and internationally.
The United States and many regional governments have openly challenged Maduro’s claim to victory, with some acknowledging González as the legitimate president.
Amidst reports of arrests and human rights violations, a sense of instability permeates the political landscape in Venezuela.
This dire situation has prompted many, including individuals like Maite, to consider leaving their homeland in search of safety and better opportunities elsewhere.
The ongoing turmoil highlights the pressing need for change and the yearning of countless Venezuelans for a more stable and equitable future.
Humanitarian concerns
The return of deported Venezuelans has caused fury and alarm among human rights activists.
Many of these people were fleeing desperate conditions in Venezuela, such as poverty, political repression, and violence.
The US government’s decision to deport them back to a country in economic decline is concerning.
When these migrants return, they frequently find themselves in a country that has been devastated by a humanitarian crisis.
The Venezuelan economy is currently undergoing a two-digit inflation which makes it difficult for returnees to reintegrate into society efficiently.
Economist Aldo Contreras recently commented on the status of deportees returning to Venezuela, saying, “The issue of deportees is still not statistically significant.”
This demonstrates the relatively minor impact that current returnees have on the overall economy- for now- especially given the enormous number of nearly 8 million people who have left the country.
President Nicolas Maduro declared upon their arrival that “these are not criminals (…) they came due to the impact of US sanctions, and we must welcome them back as productive members of society.”
One of the top concerns of Venezuelan leaders is the future that these deportees might face upon their arrival to Venezuela, as most of them are persecuted by the government due to political reasons.
“Now those who were in Guantánamo have arrived in Venezuela. The (Venezuelan) regime will protect anyone who is a member of the Tren de Aragua and those who are innocent; however, they will imprison the dissident military members or volunteers from July 28th, and we may never hear from them again, as has already happened with many from the first group” said David Smolansky, an opposition leader exiled in the US and a spokesperson of the Venezualan migrants, commenting on the new wave of Venezuelan deported.
Financial implications
The repatriation of Venezuelans may appear to be a political tactic, but it has major financial consequences for the already suffering country.
The flood of deported people might add to the strain on an economy that is already suffering from a devastating crisis.
With roughly 80% of the population living in poverty, the unexpected return of the people in large numbers might exacerbate existing problems in the long term.
While some efforts are being made to assist these returnees in starting enterprises and generating income, Contreras remains cautious.
He underlined that, while Maduro’s government announced a $10 million fund for these returnees, information regarding how the amount will be used is scant, leading many to question the usefulness of such initiatives.
He also stated that: “We must wait in the coming days to see if the number truly increases significantly.”
The possible increase in returnees may need economic initiatives by the Venezuelan government to accommodate them.
This issue is exacerbated by the US government’s recent plans of termination of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for about 600,000 Venezuelans, leaving many people in limbo.
A divided response
Both governments’ responses have been very different. While the US government has presented deportations as a law enforcement problem, Venezuelan officials call them unjust and detrimental.
Venezuelan officials stated on Friday that one of the 177 Venezuelan immigrants who returned from the United States after being incarcerated in Guantanamo is wanted by Interpol for an alleged crime committed in Ecuador.
This raises worries about the possible difficulties and consequences of reintegrating these people into society, as the government attempts to navigate the complexity of their legal position and public safety.
Invezz’s request for comments from Venezuela’s Foreign Relations Ministry was unanswered at the time of publishing.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security stated that 126 of the deportees had criminal charges or convictions, including 80 who were allegedly associated with the Venezuelan group Tren de Aragua.
The official said that 51 had no criminal history.
The National TPS Alliance and seven Venezuelans have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its decision to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Venezuelan immigrants by April 7.
TPS allows individuals to legally live and work in the US if returning to their home country is unsafe. The revocation could result in mass deportations of Venezuelans currently under this protection.
The complaint, filed Wednesday night in San Francisco’s U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem unlawfully revoked an 18-month extension granted by the Biden administration just before President Biden left office.
Most of the Venezuelan legal migrants in the United States were strong supporters of Trump during his campaign in the hope he would strongly address the Venezuelan crisis and promote a change in government, but after his recent decisions to deport people, many of these voters feel betrayed and hopeless.
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