We shouldn’t neglect Venezuelans waiting on our border
At an international level, President Joe Biden is trying to bring pressure on Venezuela’s brutal dictator, Nicolas Maduro, to restore dignity and prosperity to its citizens. Venezuela is a resources-rich country. The 2022 BP Statistical Review of World Energy estimated that it had 304 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, the largest of any country in the world. Saudi Arabia was second with 298 billion barrels and the U.S. had 69.
Despite these riches, the country is in crisis both economically and in terms of democracy to the extent that 7 million Venezuelans have fled. That is 25% of the country’s total population. It would be the rough equivalent of 80 million Americans fleeing the U.S. or 35 to 40 states the size of New Mexico.
There is another Venezuela issue that is equally important – the plight of the tens of thousands of Venezuelans who have traveled almost 3,000 miles through some of the world’s most hostile territory to reach the U.S. border in hopes of achieving asylum status, finding work and beginning new lives.
In the last 10 months, I have had the opportunity to meet hundreds of them, often in the most difficult situations.
In September, I watched a surge of some 400 cross the Rio Grande and turn themselves in to the Border Patrol for processing.
When Title 42 went into effect, hundreds camped on the riverbank in Juárez hoping that Title 42 would be lifted. This camp eventually grew to about 1,500 people.
Later Venezuelans packed the small shelter at the Sacred Heart church in El Paso, while many also slept on the sidewalks.
On May 10, we drove to the site in Juárez of the terrible March 27 fire that killed 40 migrants. A 16-year-old girl named Ana told us that she, her father and her younger sister, Fatima, had spent two months traveling up from Venezuela and then two months in a Mexican government shelter. The shelter was so terrible that they decided to pitch their tent on the sidewalk instead.
The optimism and perseverance these Venezuelans displayed in every one of these harsh situations was amazing and we should make a special effort to alleviate the situation they are in. Here are some options.
In terms of initial asylum hearings, give priority to those who are actually at the border. Do these hearings in person as the Border Patrol was doing with great efficiency when I observed the surge back in September 2022.
Ease up on the work requirements. They need work and money; we need workers, especially here in New Mexico.
Devise an expanded guest worker program for them.
Beef up staffing for the initial asylum processing and the final judicial hearings.
Beef up the shelters on both sides of the border.
Yes, diplomacy on an international level is essential and let’s hope that President Biden’s efforts are successful. At the same time, let’s not forget those Venezuelans who are already on our border.