Colombian Government Gives Venezuelans Protective Status
Iván Duque is the current President of Colombia (Wikimedia Commons).
Colombian President Iván Duque signed a decree creating the Statute of Temporary Protection for Venezuelan migrants on March 1. The Statute lasts ten years, during which the country can legally help those who fled Venezuela and obtained a residential visa in Colombia.
The program ensures that Venezuelans who fled because of their country's economic, social, and political situation will receive the humanitarian attention they need. Venezuelans will have access to all social benefits in Colombia, including the COVID-19 vaccine, and although undocumented, they will be able to legally live and work for a decade.
According to Colombian Migration, 966,000 out of the 1.72 million Venezuelans currently residing in Colombia are undocumented. Undocumentation excludes Venezuelans from receiving any form of benefits such as health care, education, and labor.
The measures taken by the Colombian government gained international support from other governments, international organizations, and Pope Francis. Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, notes that "documentation is critical for socio-economic inclusion. The Temporary Protection Status will allow Venezuelans to contribute actively to the national economy and the well-being of the communities that host them." With this protection, children can attend school, and migrant parents can formally enter the labor market without relying on illegal and informal sector labor, subjecting them to exploitation and abuse. Doctors, lawyers, and teachers can officially pursue their careers once again under this status.
The ultimate goal behind this Statute of Protection is to give Venezuelans time to obtain their visa and build a sense of "fraternity and brotherhood" between Colombians and Venezuelans. Ultimately, the goal is to bypass the xenophobia that has marked the country and divided both groups.
Many Venezuelans have been smuggled into the country due to their country’s political and economic crisis. Duque’s program provides a new opportunity for the many Venezuelans who wish to restart their lives in another country. However, some Colombians are displeased that the focus is on Venezuelans, as Colombians have also suffered greatly from the pandemic. In a poll released last year, 69 percent of Colombians had an unfavorable view of Venezuelan migrants. Many low-income Colombians complain that Venezuelans take jobs that should be for Colombians. Duque has nonetheless attempted to acknowledge the need for aiding the Venezuelans by firmly giving them protection.