Here is Where Venezuelans Have Migrated To

There are over 7M Venezuelan refugees in the world. 84% of them have fled to other Latin American countries. Colombia is the country with the most Venezuelan migrants, with 2.5M, followed by Peru, with 1.5M. Venezuela's largest border is shared with Colombia, and Peru is in proximity.

Elsewhere, the US has received 545K Venezuelan migrants, and Spain has received 438K. This August, Venezuelans surpassed Guatemalans and Hondurans to become the second-largest nationality stopped at the US border (after Mexicans). Venezuelans were stopped 25K times this August, up 43% from the previous month and 4x compared to August 2021.

Why are Venezuelans fleeing? Years of failed socio-economic policies have taken freedoms away from its citizens and brought doom to the country, including:

Minimum wage is $15 USD/month

One of the world's highest inflation rates

76% of its population lives in extreme poverty (<$1.90/day)

Spikes in violence and uncertainty across the whole country

Poor access to clean running water, electricity, and basic medical services

Repression through fraudulent elections, political arrests, and a lack of press freedom

The journey Venezuelans undertake to get to the US is really dangerous. It includes traveling through Panama's notorious jungle, the Darien Gap, and Mexico’s deserts. And many get stuck along the way, sometimes just before arriving.

For example, 300 Venezuelans were deported from El Paso to Juarez last week after a recent US/Mexico agreement seeking to address the situation. This agreement states that the US will offer an additional 24k visas for Venezuelans but will return anyone that crosses the border illegally to Mexico. Today, deported migrants are asking for money near bridges and living on the streets. This is worrying as the cold winter approaches, and they find themselves in limbo.