Colombia citizenship for 24,000 Venezuelans

BOGOTÁ: Venezuelan migrant Wuendy Villamizar fled venezuela by foot while seven months pregnant to ensure she gave birth in Colombia.

Her infant son was born healthy at a border hospital earlier this year but has gone without one of the most basic human rights: Citizenship.

That changed on Monday when President Iván Duque announced that his government will grant citizenship to more than 24,000 babies like Santiago Josue who were born to Venezuelan parents in Colombia and are at risk of statelessness.

The 26-year-old mother of three is still overwhelmed trying to provide for her family while living in Colombia without any legal status herself, but knowing that her youngest will be entitled to the same rights as any other citizen came as a relief.

“My son is going to have his citizenship, at least,” she said.

Duque hailed the resolution as a sign of solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who continue to flee a political and economic crisis. More than 1.4 million Venezuelans are now residing in the neighbouring Andean nation, more than any other country.

“Today we support these defenseless children who want to have the right to a nationality and proudly tell them that they are Colombian,” Duque said during a ceremonial signing at the presidential palace while surrounded by members of his Cabinet.

Colombia’s laws still prohibit children born to foreign parents in the country illegally from accessing birthright citizenship. Statistics from Colombia’s migration agency show some 47 per cent of Venezuelans living in the country lack legal status.

That does not include an estimated 500,000 Venezuelans of Colombian origin who have now returned.

Children born to Venezuelan parents abroad have a right to Venezuelan citizenship, but it has become nearly impossible for many to obtain.

Venezuela severed diplomatic ties with colombia and no longer operates any consulates inside the country. While parents could return to Venezuela to seek their child’s citizenship, many are reluctant to travel back.

Babies born in Colombia have previously been given birth certificates, but they clearly state, “Not valid for citizenship.”

If the children were to remain stateless, they would be unable to travel internationally, buy a home, have a legal job or marry later as adults.

“They were caught in a limbo,” said Marianne Menji var, colombia country director for the nonprofit International Rescue Commitee.