what is it and how to apply?

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), put this week into effect a program to allow Venezuelans who are “fleeing the economic and humanitarian crisis” to enter their territory. This, they said, is in order to reduce the number of people who arrive illegally at the southern border of the country.

Here we explain what the program consists of.

What is a humanitarian permit?

It is something similar to a “probation” established by the United States that a person can avail himself of if he demonstrates that he has a “compelling emergency” and “there is an urgent humanitarian reason or a significant public benefit to allow him to temporarily enter the United States. United States,” according to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).

Does it have a cost to apply for the humanitarian permit?

The process, in the case of Venezuelans, has no cost to the sponsor or the one who benefits from the process, according to Blas Núñez Neto, acting undersecretary for border and immigration policy at DHS.

How many Venezuelans will benefit from this program?

The United States will allow legal entry into its territory to 24,000 Venezuelans.

Currently there are a little more than half a million Venezuelan migrants in US territory according to the latest figures revealed by the United Nations Organization.

How will you know when the application process begins?

The USCIS enabled a Web page to update the steps to be taken by those interested in obtaining a humanitarian permit. The application will be completely online.

How soon will you know if you are eligible?

“It is a process that can move very quickly,” the DHS reported. The agency assured that the process will be similar to the program offered to Ukrainiansin which humanitarian permits have been granted even in just one week.

What happens when the humanitarian permit is granted?

The DHS detailed that those people who are admitted will receive a travel permit directly from the United States government to enter the country from any territory in which the Venezuelan person is located.

What must you do to be eligible?

Show that you have a “sponsor” in the United States who provides financial or other support for your stay in the country.

Pass rigorous national and public security biometric and biographical screenings. You will need to provide a photo and go through a travel authorization process at the national security systems.

Complete vaccination schedules, including against COVID-19, and other health requirements.

What must a “sponsor” file with the US government?

Those residents of the United States who agree to be sponsors of Venezuelans seeking humanitarian permission, will have to present an “Affidavit” or sworn statement that demonstrates their economic capacity, and that includes the name of the beneficiary.

Also, a valid copy of a government-issued ID showing the sponsor’s name and date of birth. For example, employment document, license, passport, permanent resident card or birth certificate.

How long can you stay in the United States on parole?

Being a temporary measure, Venezuelans could only stay legally in the United States for a maximum of two years. During that time they could access a work permit.

What will happen to those who cross the border without a humanitarian permit?

As an immediate measure, Venezuelans who enter the United States through any of its ports without authorization or who do not prove they have a private sponsor will be returned to Mexico. In addition, they will not be able to apply for the permit in the future.

Who is not eligible?

• Those people who have been deported in the last five years.
• Those who illegally enter Mexico or Panama after the date of the announcement.
• DHS estimates that more than 3,000 people, mostly Venezuelans, are crossing into Panama each day.
• Those who are permanent residents or have dual nationality of a country other than Venezuela.
• Those who have refugee status in another country.

What do experts and organizations think of this decision?

Amid the intention to regulate the migration of Venezuelans to the United States, experts fear that the measure is not enough. They even condemn the fact that humanitarian permission is only allowed to people who have a private sponsor.

Daniel Berlin, the deputy director for migration at the International Rescue Committee, said that “the US commitment to only receive Venezuelans with private sponsors and return others to Mexico will put further pressure on an already stretched system with limited support. The United States can and must build a safe, orderly and humane process to receive asylum seekers.”

On the other hand, Senator Bob Menéndez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called on the Joe Biden administration to “reconsider” the expulsion of Venezuelans who entered US territory without permission.

“This program creates an automatic disqualification for Venezuelans who have risked their lives to find temporary refuge in Panama and Mexico. Under this new program, more Venezuelans will be removed under Title 42 than are eligible for parole,” she said in written expressions.

title 42 is a border restriction between Mexico and the United States, implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which establishes the expulsion to Mexico of people who illegally cross into US territory.

For his part, Núñez Neto pointed out that this measure is an “incentive” for Venezuelans to refrain from making the trip to the United States across the border.

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