Posted on May 17, 2021
'We gave Venezuelan migrants a licence to dream'
914
9
2
6
6
0
When the Colombian government announced in February that it would grant almost a million undocumented Venezuelan migrants legal status, the move was welcomed as "a historic gesture".
The United Nation's High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, praised Colombia "for its extraordinary generosity".
Three months on from the announcement, Lucas Gómez, Colombia's presidential adviser on border matters, in an interview with the BBC is urging other countries in the region to follow suit and for the international community to step up financially to make the integration of the Venezuelan migrants a success.
The number of Venezuelans who have left their country in the past five years to escape their homeland's political and economic crisis currently stands at more than 5.6 million.
The United Nation's High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, praised Colombia "for its extraordinary generosity".
Three months on from the announcement, Lucas Gómez, Colombia's presidential adviser on border matters, in an interview with the BBC is urging other countries in the region to follow suit and for the international community to step up financially to make the integration of the Venezuelan migrants a success.
The number of Venezuelans who have left their country in the past five years to escape their homeland's political and economic crisis currently stands at more than 5.6 million.
'We gave Venezuelan migrants a licence to dream'
Posted from bbc.comPosted in these groups: 
Colombia
Immigration
Colombia Immigration
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 1
2
2
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
How did this happen?
Venezuela has been governed for the past 20 years by the socialist PSUV party. From 1999 to his death in 2013, Hugo Chávez was president. He was succeeded by his right-hand man, Nicolás Maduro.
During its more than two decades in power, the PSUV has gained control of many key institutions including much of the judiciary, the electoral council and the supreme court.
But under President Maduro, Venezuela's economy collapsed. Shortages of basic supplies became widespread, prompting more than 5 million people to leave.
Venezuelan police officer Cesar Marcano (C) along with his wife Adriana Ballera (L) and their children Alexandra (R), Cesar Jesus (top) e Adranlleli seek refuge in Brazil, at the Brazil-Venezuela border, in Pacaraima, Roraima state, Brazil on February 25, 2019.
More than five million Venezuelans have fled the country in the past years, many on foot.
In December 2016, opposition parties won a majority in the National Assembly, and the legislature became a thorn in President Maduro's side.
In response, he created the National Constituent Assembly, made up exclusively of government supporters whose powers supersede those of the National Assembly. The two bodies have been at loggerheads ever since.
Mr Maduro was re-elected in 2018 but the poll was widely dismissed as rigged. National Assembly leader Juan Guaidó labelled Mr Maduro a "usurper" and declared himself interim president in January 2019.
Juan Guaidó poses after he declared himself interim leader on 23 January 2019
Mr Guaidó invoked a paragraph in the constitution which allows for such a step when the presidency is left vacant
More than 50 countries recognised Mr Guaidó but the Venezuelan military, a key player in the country, has remained loyal to Mr Maduro.
Mr Maduro has remained in the presidential palace and in charge of the country.
A number of opposition politicians have been arrested and many have fled the country, including Juan Guaidó's mentor, Leopoldo López.
media captionVenezuelan opposition figure Leopoldo López explains why he left his home country
The US, which has sided with Mr Guaidó, has imposed sanctions on Mr Maduro, his inner circle and Venezuela's oil industry, making it hard to get fuel and foreign currency.
Meanwhile, opposition parties are divided over strategy. With most boycotting legislative elections, the National Assembly looks set to come under the control of Mr Maduro's party as well.
How did this happen?
Venezuela has been governed for the past 20 years by the socialist PSUV party. From 1999 to his death in 2013, Hugo Chávez was president. He was succeeded by his right-hand man, Nicolás Maduro.
During its more than two decades in power, the PSUV has gained control of many key institutions including much of the judiciary, the electoral council and the supreme court.
But under President Maduro, Venezuela's economy collapsed. Shortages of basic supplies became widespread, prompting more than 5 million people to leave.
Venezuelan police officer Cesar Marcano (C) along with his wife Adriana Ballera (L) and their children Alexandra (R), Cesar Jesus (top) e Adranlleli seek refuge in Brazil, at the Brazil-Venezuela border, in Pacaraima, Roraima state, Brazil on February 25, 2019.
More than five million Venezuelans have fled the country in the past years, many on foot.
In December 2016, opposition parties won a majority in the National Assembly, and the legislature became a thorn in President Maduro's side.
In response, he created the National Constituent Assembly, made up exclusively of government supporters whose powers supersede those of the National Assembly. The two bodies have been at loggerheads ever since.
Mr Maduro was re-elected in 2018 but the poll was widely dismissed as rigged. National Assembly leader Juan Guaidó labelled Mr Maduro a "usurper" and declared himself interim president in January 2019.
Juan Guaidó poses after he declared himself interim leader on 23 January 2019
Mr Guaidó invoked a paragraph in the constitution which allows for such a step when the presidency is left vacant
More than 50 countries recognised Mr Guaidó but the Venezuelan military, a key player in the country, has remained loyal to Mr Maduro.
Mr Maduro has remained in the presidential palace and in charge of the country.
A number of opposition politicians have been arrested and many have fled the country, including Juan Guaidó's mentor, Leopoldo López.
media captionVenezuelan opposition figure Leopoldo López explains why he left his home country
The US, which has sided with Mr Guaidó, has imposed sanctions on Mr Maduro, his inner circle and Venezuela's oil industry, making it hard to get fuel and foreign currency.
Meanwhile, opposition parties are divided over strategy. With most boycotting legislative elections, the National Assembly looks set to come under the control of Mr Maduro's party as well.
(2)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google