The United States is resuming the process of deporting Venezuelans who unlawfully cross the U.S.-Mexico border, as a measure to address the surge in migrant crossings, according to a senior U.S. official on Thursday.
President Joe Biden has been confronted with an unprecedented number of illegal border crossings, largely driven by the escalating economic and political crisis in Venezuela.
“This decision demonstrates our commitment to imposing consequences on those who enter the country illegally,” stated an anonymous senior official in a briefing. The new policy will take immediate effect.
Over the past two years, hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans have braved the perilous journey through the hazardous jungle region known as the Darien Gap, in order to reach the U.S.-Mexico border.
The unnamed official attributed the shift in policy as “a direct result of these individuals failing to take advantage of the legal pathways that we have established and expanded, allowing for legal entry and stay in the country.”
As part of efforts to address the crisis, the Biden administration has initiated a program that offers humanitarian parole to Venezuelans who apply from outside the United States and have American sponsors.
In the previous month, Washington stated its intention to grant temporary relief from deportation and provide work permit access to nearly half a million Venezuelans already residing in the country as of the end of July.
Until now, strained diplomatic relations between the United States and Venezuela hindered deportation efforts. U.S. officials declined to comment on specific discussions with Venezuela regarding their agreement to accept deportations.
In response to a request for comment, the Venezuelan ministry of communications in Caracas did not immediately provide a response.
(Reporting by Mica Rosenberg and Kristina Cooke, writing by David Ljunggren; editing by Grant McCool)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
