A record 7,484 Venezuelans were taken in by Border Patrol agents at the Mexico border last month -- more than in all the 14 years since record keeping started, according to The Associated Press.
What drives them here? The pandemic, inflation, social upheaval, political strife, food shortages, power blackouts, fear of being imprisoned . . .
And, the fact that they will probably be able to stay once they arrive. Only 26 percent of them have had their applications for asylum denied. And, if when their applications are denied, how do you deport them? In 2019, President Trump cut off ties with the country -- including suspending flights from the U.S. You cannot just buy them a ticket for Caracus and be done with them. No, not having open transportation lines makes it very difficult, if not impossible, to deport them to Venezuela.
Here is a telling fact: Of the 17,306 Venezuelans who have crossed the southern border without authorization since January, many came from where they had relocated in other South American countries. They had fled to those countries, and now had decided to continue on to the U.S. At least part of that is surely because they heard how easy it is to remain in the U.S. if they do come.
Only 26 percent of them are denied? And, how does that compare to other countries? Those from other poor countries are denied at an 80 percent clip, even though they often come from places of extreme violence and crime.
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