Venezuelan Migrants at the Border Decrease by 90% After Joe Biden's New Policy Came Into Effect

President Joe Biden has enacted a new border policy that has made it harder for Venezuelan migrants to cross the U.S. border. The new policy seems to be working, as immigration from Venezuela fell by 90%.

Before the policy was announced on October 12, the Associated Press reported that around 1,200 Venezuelan migrants came to the U.S.-Mexico border daily. The number has now dropped to about 150 Venezuelans trying to cross the U.S. border from Mexico.

The report said the main reason is the strict enforcement of the new policy, which allows the U.S. to expel Venezuelans to Mexico without an opportunity to seek asylum.

Mexico and Panama Backing Up U.S. Numbers in Venezuelan Migrants Decrease

Mexico's Foreign Relations Department backed these numbers as well. According to Arturo Rocha, a top official from the said department, Venezuelans entering the U.S. fell around 90%, which is roughly in line with the U.S. government's statistics.

The official added that Venezuelans crossing the dangerous Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama also dropped to around 80%. The Panamanian government also said the new U.S. policy is forcing Venezuelan migrants to return home.

On Friday, the Panamanian government reported that 435 Venezuelan migrants had flown back to Venezuela soon after the U.S. government announced its new policy. Another 200 more are also expected to return via charter flights arranged by the Venezuelan consulate.

According to NPR, this new U.S. policy was made in agreement with Mexico to curb the record number of Venezuelan migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. It also opens a new legal pathway for around 24,000 Venezuelan migrants planning to enter the country.

However, this makes it harder for Venezuelans to cross the U.S. border as they need to find a financial sponsor in the U.S. and come over to the country by plane. Venezuelan migrants also face a tougher time whenever they arrive in the U.S. than those from Mexico.

"They're starting over in very precarious circumstances," said Andrew Selee, the president of the Migration Policy Institute.

That is mainly because Venezuelan migrants usually do not have the social networks in the U.S. to make things easier for them, unlike immigrants of other nationalities.

First Group of Venezuelan Migrants Who Followed the New Joe Biden Policy Arrive

While the new Biden administration policy made it harder for Venezuelans to enter the U.S., the first group who availed of the legal offer finally arrived last Saturday. According to CBS News, these Venezuelan migrants were approved to come to the U.S. under the private sponsorship program.

The U.S. government began accepting applications from prospective sponsors on Tuesday and showed that the sponsorship process was placed into operation at a rapid pace.

In addition, hundreds more have also been approved to travel to the U.S. where they will be granted humanitarian parole. This temporary quasi-status will allow these Venezuelan migrants to legally work and live in the U.S. for at least two years.

According to officials of the Biden administration, Venezuelans were generally being expelled under Title 42, a public health rule that suspends rights to seek asylum under the U.S. and international law to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The administration expanded the program to expel Venezuelans to Mexico despite an effort earlier this year to end Title 42, which has stayed in effect under a court order.

This new policy was also reportedly modeled after the humanitarian efforts to take in Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Venezuelans Halt at Darien Jungle After New U.S. Policy - From Associated Press