Under pressure over border, Biden admin grants protection to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Wed Sep 20, 2023, 09:32 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: AP

Updated 8:49 PM EDT, September 20, 2023


WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration said Wednesday that it was granting temporary legal status to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who are already in the country as it grapples with growing numbers of people fleeing the South American country and elsewhere to arrive at the U.S. border with Mexico.

The move — along with promises to accelerate work permits for many migrants — may appease Democratic leaders who have pressured the White House to do more to aid asylum-seekers, while also providing grist for Republicans who say the president has been too lax on immigration.

The Homeland Security Department plans to grant Temporary Protected Status to an estimated 472,000 Venezuelans who arrived in the country as of July 31, 2023, making it easier for them to get authorization to work in the U.S., a key demand of Democratic mayors and governors who are struggling to care for an increased number of migrants in their care.

That’s in addition to about 242,700 Venezuelans who already qualified for temporary status before Wednesday’s announcement. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas granted the expansion and an 18-month extension for those who already have temporary status due to “Venezuela’s increased instability and lack of safety due to the enduring humanitarian, security, political, and environmental conditions,” the department said in a statement.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/biden-immigration-border-migrant-venezuela-b914be14aaeef14eb01bd10ee23067f4

---

Short article at post time.

Article updated.

Original article -

Updated 8:23 PM EDT, September 20, 2023


WASHINGTON (AP) — Under intense political pressure from fellow Democrats, the Biden administration announced late Wednesday that it was granting protection to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who are already in the country.

The move to give Venezuelans who arrived in the country as of July 31, 2023 temporary protected status essentially makes it much easier and faster for them to get authorization to work in the U.S., which has been a key demand of Democratic mayors and governors who are struggling to care for an increased number of migrants in their care.

In a news release Wednesday, the administration also said that it would accelerate work authorizations for people who have recently arrived in the country and are eligible to get a work permit.

[Martin68]

1. Morally, we owe it to repressed people to given them refuge. As an aging population, we will

benefit from an infusion of immigrants. Aging countries like Japan that have cut off immigration are suffering as a result. these are good people. We are lucky to ad them to our population. the money invested will be worth it in the long run.

[BlueIn_W_Pa]

4. Cannot disagee more

We morally "owe" no one, aging population is a good thing, and I've been to Japan many times, and they aren't suffering. More immigration = wage suppression here, so cheers to the capitalists

This is not the same economy as when the US was younger

No one can argue against this discussion - immigration IS NOT A SOLUTION:

[Martin68]

17. I can and will continue to argue that immigration is a benefit to every healthy country. You should

little research into how the lack of immigration and a rapidly aging society has negatively impacted Japan. You are treading mighty close to Republican taking points my friend. You also seem to lack a moral compass if you think we should turn away refugees from repressive regimes and gang violence. Immigrants don't take any jobs from Americans. They do the jobs Americans refuse to do. They are already a vital part of our economy, without being extended the privileges of citizens, or even the opportunity to obtain citizenship. They get injured on a job and are thrown by the wayside.

[BlueIn_W_Pa]

21. Really? That accusation ends up with people being banned, so thank you for that

You are treading mighty close to Republican taking points my friend.

Since when is reality a (R) talking point? like never?

Did you bother to watch the video? The math simply doesn't work, so find a solution where people don't find a need to go through 7 countries to come to the US. A moral compass must also face reality, and being pragmatic, I want solutions that are realistic and meaningful. I work and live in a neighborhood with higher than normal H1B immigrants (maybe 20%), and it may be worth while to ask what that demographic has to say - and they are really not (R)s either. They did it legally, and yes, it's messed up that it takes 10 years to get citizenship, but they have pretty strong opinions about the southern border issue.

"jobs Americans refuse to do" is because the corporations are vastly underpaying those workers (much to the happiness of Republicans). Pay a decent wage, and "Americans" will do that job.

If someone comes through the system legally, they are protected.

We need to push more to help those countries out so the people don't feel like they need to "flee"

[Martin68]

22. I completely agree that our foreign policy would focus more on helping these countries change the

conditions which lead to emmigration. We should be investing in support to their economies and provide incentives for democratic development. In the meantime, turning away desperate families is immoral, and violates numerous international agreements to which we are party.

Corporations are not paying the salaries of the kind of work immigrants do. I fear you are a little out of touch regarding what role millions of immigrants play in our economy.

[womanofthehills]

28. US sanctions on Venezuela have backfired

Esp the oil sanctions - people can not get gas to get to their jobs, they have a damaged electric grid and little water.

Gas shortages – on top of long government lockdowns to control the spread of COVID-19 – have aggravated existing economic disparities. The bottom line: More people are unable to get to work or find any worthwhile employment; and more families sink into or further into poverty. A recent survey found that nearly 95 percent of the Venezuelan population is considered poor while 76.7 percent lives in extreme poverty.

Filling up your car takes at least 24 hours – from planning which station to try your luck at, to actually getting there, waiting, and finally (hopefully) being supplied. It’s an effort that leaves everyone exhausted, and can often end in disappointment.

Because only limited amounts of gasoline are delivered in each scarce truckload, the National Guard, a branch of Venezuela’s armed forces, marks the cars in line. If they say there will be gas available for, let’s say 300 cars, and you’re the 301st in line, you’re just plain out of luck – but that’s something you won’t find out until you’ve already waited in line for several hours.
....
WATER
During the first two months of 2022, only 27,1 percent of the country received water through pipes every day, according to the Venezuelan Observatory of Public Services (OVSS). The local NGO ranked Maracaibo as the city that buys the most water from private vendors, with 48.7 percent of the population paying for deliveries to satisfy their demand. A water truck delivery, depending on the size, costs between $25 and $50. Again, this seems like a good moment to remind everyone of the $30-a-month minimum wage.

https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/first-person/2022/06/09/Venezuela-oil-shortages-gas-Maracaibo

[Polybius]

27. Not in my town though

[stuck in the middle]

2. Here's an old article on the same topic.

This one is about my wife’s country.

The world can learn from Colombia as the Ukrainian refugee crisis grows

https://thehill.com/opinion/international/597184-the-world-can-learn-from-colombia-as-the-ukrainian-refugee-crisis-grows/

Although it is largely a coincidence of timing that Colombia’s president, Ivan Duque, will travel to Washington, D.C., this week to visit President Joe Biden, it is a propitious one, with the world watching the massive exodus of civilians from Ukraine seeking safe harbor.

Colombia has a lot to share with European countries as they begin to address the basic needs of refugees pouring over their borders and brace for the millions more likely to come, because Colombia has seen millions upon millions of desperate people fleeing the collapse of Venezuela since 2015. In fact, the vast majority of the 6 million Venezuelans forced out of their country found first refuge in Colombia, including the more than 2 million who have become part of Colombian society.

Rather than respond with nativism and overzealous border enforcement or buckle under the weight of such a large, displaced population, Colombia — across two quite different presidential administrations — rose to the challenge. And it did so without the outpouring of global support the refugee response in Europe will (and should) almost undoubtedly receive.

A critical component of the Colombian response is President Duque’s historic decision to provide 10-year legal status to nearly 1 million Venezuelans living in Colombia, providing stability and opportunity to an otherwise vulnerable population. It benefits not only the migrants but also the communities that have received them. Stabilized migrant populations are ones that can and do contribute more effectively to local economic growth, as has been seen time and again in Colombia, in the United States, and around the world.

snip—-(more at link)—-

[mountain grammy]

9. Thanks for posting this.

[stuck in the middle]

25. Historically, Venezuela was a part of Gran Colombia, ...

…like Colombia, Panama, Ecuador and even parts of Peru.

Colombia itself has experienced perhaps more displacement of peoples than any other country here in America.

Of course, Colombia is a huge country, so most of that displacement has been within the country, and are classified as IDP’s (Internally displaced people), but not all.

Venezuela has historically accepted many Colombian refugees over the years, as this UN video, based on an old Cumbia from Colombia (La Piragua) demonstrates.

La Piragua

Una familia colombiana debe escapar del conflicto armado de su país, al cruzar la frontera los niños encuentran en Venezuela una oportunidad para trascender a través de la música. La niña "Luz" expresa su recorrido cantando el tema La Piragua transformando sus tristezas en una alegre celebración en Santa Bárbara del Zulia.

El Alto Comisionado de Naciones Unidas para los Refugiados (ACNUR), El Sistema de Orquestas y Coros Juveniles e Infantiles de Venezuel(a, Froid International, Hiper Tv y El Sistema Zulia presentan: LA PIRAGUA, música original de José Barros.
Dirección: OMAR ZAMBRANO
Producción: WILDI RIVERO Y JENNY MORENO
Cinematografía: DAVID RIVERA
Sonido: JORGE NAVA Y JUAN NUÑEZ
Asistencia de Dirección: ADIRAY VERA
Edición: OMAR ZAMBRANO
Color: MIGUEL ANGEL RUIZ

——(via DeepL)——

The Canoe

A Colombian family must escape the armed conflict in their country, crossing the border the children find in Venezuela an opportunity to transcend through music. The girl "Luz" expresses her journey by singing the song La Piragua, transforming her sadness into a joyful celebration in Santa Barbara del Zulia.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), El Sistema de Orquestas y Coros Juveniles e Infantiles de Venezuela, Froid International, Hiper TV and El Sistema Zulia present: LA PIRAGUA, original music by José Barros.
Directed by: OMAR ZAMBRANO
Production: WILDI RIVERO AND JENNY MORENO
Cinematography: DAVID RIVERA
Sound: JORGE NAVA AND JUAN NUÑEZ
Assistant Director: ADIRAY VERA
Editing: OMAR ZAMBRANO
Color: MIGUEL ANGEL RUIZ

[Martin68]

29. Gran Colonbia was Bolivar's grand project, and he set himself up as a quasi-Emperor.

It didn't last very long.

[stuck in the middle]

30. Ha!

Gran Colonbia was Bolivar's grand project, and he set himself up as a quasi-Emperor.
It didn't last very long.

Historically, my wife’s culture gets some of the blame (and/or credit, as the case may be) for that…lol.

Royalism (Anthropology group)

https://www.democraticunderground.com/12298882

Las Guerrillas Del Patía

[stuck in the middle]

31. Check out the title of Chapter 6

https://www.amazon.com/Indian-Slave-Royalists-Age-Revolution/dp/1107084148

6 - “The yoke of the greatest of all tyrannical intruders, Bolívar”

The royalist rebels in Colombia’s southwest (1820–1825)

[stuck in the middle]

32. Like most American nations, ...

…Colombia is at its best when it channels its Palenque and Indigenous roots.

(Much the same could be said of the Catholic Church here in America, by the way, who my wife’s ancestors fought holy wars for in the struggle against slavery.)

It’s not a country without problems, by any means.

In the mid 1700s, my wife’s ancestors were offered full pardons for all of their crimes (stuff like running away from their former masters and setting up an autonomous society, and rustling cattle from their former masters, which apparently were considered as crimes by the colonial authorities, despite widespread support in my wife’s culture), but they refused the offer. They refused to stop accepting refugees and immigrants, as the colonial government wanted them to do.

Instead, they fought holy wars against the institution of slavery.

Yet, as occured in the neighboring palenques of Esmeraldes and Baudó, and in other runaway communities in colonial contexts, the inhabitants of El Castigo sought the presense of representatives of the church in their territory. Between 1731 and 1732, they sent three messengers to the city of Pasto to request that a Priest visit Nachao and Nalgua, two towns they had established, each of which had built a church within its boundries. This request exposed their strategy of aligning their community with the Catholic precepts that were central to social and political life in Popayán.

The Quito Audiencia tried to take advantage of the maroons' interest in the church, attempting to co-opt the palenque into establishing civil government in the area in exchange for a pardon from the state. The runaway community resisted the audencia's attempt to include them within its juristiction (reducción) but succeeded in securing a permanent priest for their settlement. Morover, the Popayán municipal council conceeded their right to name two people from the palenque to "administer justice in the name of His Magisty to all the individuals who currently are congregated in those towns," with the condition that they not admit any more runaways to the community, detaining the fugitives and informing the Popayán authorities to their presence. Thus, the maroons of Patía not only used religion for the purpose of community building; they also seem to have preferred to establish a relationship with the church rather than with the civil authorities.

From post #1 of this thread

https://www.democraticunderground.com/12298882

Yeah, the English translation is every bit as convoluted as the Spanish sentence that it came from, which I happen to know because I had the same impression when I first read it in Spanish. (I was really hoping that she’d clear that up, but she didn’t. Oh, well…)

But the upshot is that my wife’s ancestors, who were considered as “illegals” here in America, chose to fight holy wars against their former masters rather than submit and regularize their status, because they could, because, due to the fortunes of plate tectonics and their own courage, they had the ability to resist.

[Marthe48]

3. As humans endure climate change and social havoc

All borders should be flexible and permeable, so that instead of humans in need piling up like driftwood against artificial borders, they can get some kind of relief from being flooded out, burned out, terrorized out, bankrupted out.

Maybe countries interested in actually being humane could create strips of land along the borders between countries where people could stop until arrangements are made for them to enter legally. I bet a lot of refugees could live in an area 1 mile wide and 50 miles long. If the land is safe from natural disasters, put people to work building housing and infrastructure that works in the environment where the 'hospitality strip' is located. Otherwise, create whatever shelter and infrastructure will provide decent protection and meet hygiene needs and can be dismantled in case of fire, floods, and all of the other natural disasters people are experiencing in real time.

Whatever it takes. If anyone watched the movie The Day After Tomorrow, when the Central American countries open their borders to North Americans fleeing the disaster, it does make you think.

[BlueIn_W_Pa]

5. This isn't even reasonably plausible

All borders should be flexible and permeable, so that instead of humans in need piling up like driftwood against artificial borders, they can get some kind of relief from being flooded out, burned out, terrorized out, bankrupted out.

Who's going to pay for it? Who's going to pay to keep up all the infrastructure to make it happen? Who's going to give up their homes, neighborhoods, lifestyles, pay more taxes, etc...

This is simply not plausible in a stable society.

[Marthe48]

7. Let's try be creative

Last edited Wed Sep 20, 2023, 10:36 PM - Edit history (1)

I hear that a lot of the land along the southern border is sparsely populated. I said 1 mile by 50 miles as an example. Use land that is not occupied, and reasonably safe from natural disasters, such as flooding. Who pays for the cages and tents already in place on the border? If we expanded the program that manages the existing immigration centers, building on what is (sort of) helpful, treating scared, frazzled humans kindly would probably endear America to them, plant the seeds of nationalism. The people coming to our borders might not even want to stop in America, they just know they have to get out of their own country. If the people managing border concerns had more space and if everyone involved had more time, interviewing would help determine if the person is a migrant, an immigrant or a refugee. Knowing why people are coming to our border would go a long way toward making it easier to decide what kind of access the person needs, and if they are suitable. Migrants follow the work and go home when the work is finished. Immigrants decided they want to live in a different country. Refugees probably lost everything, and from now on, should have a higher priority to get processed. In the meantime, have adequate shelter and infrastructure so weary travelers can get some rest and food and enter a calmer frame of mind.

I'd do with less if what I give up would be used for a project like this. Right now, people leaving their home, their country, are looking for a safer, easier place to live, like humans have done time out of mind. With so many places in harm's way, we have to find a way to live with the people moving away from danger.

Maybe instead of blocking movement with no thought of the outcome, we could see how population shifts affect land use, maybe see if people moving from densely populated to lightly populated will ease the strain on the planet. Maybe some good would come out of the upheaval. Right now, we're all heading for a world of hurt, whether now or soon.

[BlueIn_W_Pa]

8. There are initiatives to do this realistically

primarily, women education = better for everyone especially lower birth rates

overpopulated regions should not just send people our way for a better life. Like what's going on now in Central America, you can't possibly tell me there wasn't a "better" place to live than the 7 countries they traveled through to seek asylum here.

No jobs?
Gangs?
Violence?
Hard living?

Talk to people in
Baltimore
Detroit
Cleveland
etc...

[Marthe48]

10. What personally would force you to move?

Think of your home, your family, your friends, familiar landmarks, your culture, favorite restaurants, schools, hospital, church, entertainment, the language you hear on the street. Imagine your family seeing social upheaval, anything from job loss, pay cut, firefights in the street, unmarked vans with masked paramilitary types hustling protesters into the back and driving away. Imagine the threat of a volcano exploding, or living in an earthquake zone, and getting rolled out of bed as your house collapses. Would any of those situation make you give up your life? Imagine your life getting chipped away little by little, until one day, you realize you aren't getting those bits back. Or imagine that in one horrific moment, everything that defined your life is gone, and what isn't gone is soaked with filthy flood water. And you just cleaned up from a flood last month. You think if you don't get out, you are going to die. So you roll the dice, and start walking, with or without your family. And certainly nothing but memories of the place you knew and anxiety about where you're going.

There are people across the globe living those kinds of moments every day. They don't know what is going to happen if or when they arrive at a new border, if they will be allowed in or allowed to stay if they get in. But that uncertainty is nothing compared to the certain death rubbing elbows with them at home. Because of outrage from a segment of Americans, the aid given to immigrants, migrants and refugees is limited. All I'd like to see is humane treatment of people who are victims through no fault of their own. I've heard it said more than once that no matter how bad things are in America, it is still better here than there. Two of the Iranis President Biden agreed to release are not planning to go home to Iran. That says a lot about what American stands for. If we are kind and welcoming to people coming our way for help, our country will be lifted by the goodwill.

[bhikkhu]

6. The Biden admin has the right intention, but things are still pretty far out of balance

If you take a look at the current policy on Latin America, ( https://sgp.fas.org/crs/row/IF10460.pdf ), it sounds good. But we spend maybe $2 billion on helping to mitigate the root causes of the problem, and then $25 billion minimum on border enforcement. It seems like we could save money in the long term if we were more committed to stable effective governments in Latin America, even if they were less than perfect politically or perhaps not welcoming to US corporate interests.

[Marthe48]

11. Of yes, for sure

I have daily thoughts about people moving away from Home, how wrenching it is. Making their countries safer and easier to live in would solve some but not all of the people coming to out border. It isn't just Central and South American countries, either. Recently, one of the hosts on MSNBC mentioned the diverse makeup of a group who were at the border. People from several Central and South American countries, a few Ukrainians, some Canadians and some Europeans. It was surprising.
We aren't the only country with people at the borders. Last week, a boat sank in the Mediterranean Sea, and many people drowned. Several countries in Europe want limits on who comes in, they have the Europeans, the Africans and the Asians to bar and none of it is easy.

If developed countries could find solutions that improved a countries' safety and socioeconomics, it would help immensely. If developed countries would do the least necessary, and avoid reshaping the political climate as we have done in many places, many times, we'd get better results.

Nice talking. I have to go to bed!

[womanofthehills]

13. We really need to stop sanctions on Venezuela

Our sanctions are backfiring -
I was reading that because of oil shortages in Venezuela, many people can't work because they have no gas to get to a job.

[dalton99a]

14. +1. Get rid of the sanctions

[CTyankee]

15. But they will be for a long time coming, simply because of geography.

We have always been a beacon to immigrants and one of our greatest strengths.

We have a choice: we can welcome our immigrants as future assets to our country and work to help stabilize through diplomacy Latin America. And we certainly have a much better chance with such an effort under President Biden.

This is a job for us and it will always be thus. But the U.S. always comes out the winner because we get the talent and hard work of other countries.

How did we get Albert Einstein?

[V850i]

12. If Liberals Won't Enforce Borders, Fascists Will

Not a fan of David From, but I think he was right on this one. This is one of the issues that may end up helping Trump get elected to President. I would normally say "elected to a second term" but it may be the last real election in the US if he does get elected. I think there has to be a reality check about this situation. Cities like San Diego cannot handle 2400 refugees being dropped off in the city every day of the week. It is not a tenable situation and it is frustrating to normally staunch liberals. Democrats and liberals in general need to develop a comprehensive but humane solution to immigration that is not allowing 100s of thousands of refugees and untold numbers of illegal entries into the US.

I also think Merrik Garlands answers were weak about the border and in general today. He is a good man, trying to treat the hearing as if it were good men asking honest questions for real legislative purposes. It was no such thing.. he should have been more forceful and called out the outrageous falsehoods and crazy accusations being thrown around.

[CTyankee]

16. Nobody said it would be easy, but we have a better chance of it getting done right with a Biden

administration.

[dalton99a]

18. The migration of millions of people from the Middle East and Africa to Western Europe

is being matched by the migration of millions of people from Latin America to the U.S.

It is foolish to ignore this large-scale movement of people and its social/political/economic effects on the existing population.

[Mysterian]

19. Fascists will control this nation over my dead body

I served two infantry combat tours and I'll go back in the field to defend this nation from the evil of fascism.

Patriotic Americans will not allow evil, depraved fascists to take over our country. Just remember that, pallie.

[NH Ethylene]

20. I agree. Immigration policy is our weakest link right now as Dems.

And the GOP's strongest argument to elect one of theirs.

As climate change makes the tropical regions less habitable, we will see this flow increase even more. We can't support the entire population of Central America moving to this country, even as parts of the US are lost to heat and rising ocean waters. Somehow we need to restrict this flow and get those people moving south toward cooler climates as well.

I have no clue how to do that, but it's an issue that could doom us as a nation if it lets Trump get in.

[Martin68]

23. did it ever occur to you that immigration is an issue because Republicans have refuse to discuss

immigration reform even when President bush was the one proposing it? Don't blame Democrats for the failure of Republicans to even being willing to discuss solutions.

[NH Ethylene]

24. Of course I know that! I'm not blaming Dems.

Just acknowledging the problem. Like I said, I have no idea how to remedy this. I'm hoping there are some bright minds out there trying to find some new strategies. Biden had a good idea; having immigrants apply from afar and that those who just came without applying for refugee status would go to the back of the line. If I recall correctly, that was having an effect but was struck down by the courts.

[oldsoftie]

26. Its about time someone said it. This shit is a GIFT to trump.

The numbers of people crossing daily are absolutely ridiculous. And the Cult will point out that those numbers were FAR lower when trump was in. Just yesterday over 9,000 crossed. In ONE DAY. We cannot absorb those numbers. I have friends and family in areas fairly close to the border and they tell me its a nightmare. I've even seen network news coverage of it. This is BAD. Put it with high gas prices & it sells big trouble in Nov '24. But too many people want to dismiss both
Donald trump is the biggest threat to the world since WW2

[tonekat]

33. It most certainly is

The Dems must have seen this coming. The border issue is very much on the minds of Americans, and if the Dems look like they're saying "Everyone! Come on in!" they will get their asses kicked.