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You are United State Mexican officials agreed on a plan to contain the growing number of Venezuelans crossing the border between the two countries. The idea is that the United States could expel Venezuelans to Mexico while allowing thousands of them to humanitarian access by air.
The scheme to curb illegal immigration at the US-Mexico border was announced on Wednesday (12), less than a month before the US midterm elections, which threaten to disqualify the Democratic president. Joe Biden out of congressional control.
The two governments said in a statement that US authorities would handle the arrival of 24,000 Venezuelan immigrants by air.
US President Joe Biden during a speech in Washington in August – Photo: Jim Watson/Paul via Reuters
“These actions demonstrate that there is a legal and orderly way for Venezuelans to enter the United States, and legal entry is the only way,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mallorcas said in a statement.
“Those who attempt to illegally cross the southern border of the United States will be returned to Mexico and will not be able to participate in this process in the future,” he added.
Biden has struggled politically to deal with record US immigration arrests fueled by an increase in arrivals from Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua.
His Republican opponents, who are seeking control of Congress in the November 8 elections, are criticizing what they see as Biden’s failure to secure the border.
The two governments said the US-Mexico plan would be based on the “Union for Ukraine” programme. Under this program, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Ukrainians could enter the United States through an application made while they were outside its territory.
The deadline for accepting the Venezuelans is unclear, and in a call with reporters, US officials did not explain how they reached the 24,000 figure.
Meanwhile, Mexico said that to deal with the increased flows, it would “temporarily” allow some Venezuelan citizens to enter Mexico from the United States, without specifying a number.
Many Venezuelans make the dangerous crossing through the Panamanian jungle to reach the United States – Photo: Getty Images
More than 150,000 Venezuelans were arrested at the US-Mexico border between October 2021 and August 2022, according to US data.
Mexican officials argue that economic sanctions against the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro are fueling illegal immigration and should be eased.
A Mexican official said the United States was already expelling hundreds of Venezuelans to Mexico before the plan was announced. US statistics show 453 Venezuelans being expelled in August, the most recent data available.
To qualify for the New Entry Program, a US-based person or organization must support the immigrant’s application and will enter the US by air.
Those wishing to apply must not go to the US-Mexico border. Venezuelans who enter Mexico or Panama illegally after October 12 will not be eligible for the program.
The Mexican government said the United States will grant, at Mexico’s request, an additional 65,000 temporary visas to immigrants for non-agricultural work. Of these, 20,000 will be granted to Central American and Haitian citizens.
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