In the midst of the controversy over the new United States measures to admit Venezuelans, only so far in October, more than 2,300 people from the South American nation have been expelled from Guatemalan territory for having entered without complying with immigration requirements.
This is a flow never seen before and the authorities have expressed their concern, as explained by the director of the Migration Institute, Stuard Rodríguez.
“The CAP, Center for Care and Protection, is convened to take joint actions of humanitarian aid, to be able to see how to take action,” explained the official.
However, the situation could potentially get complicated: “We understand that large groups of caravans of citizens may come, mainly Venezuelans, who want to enter Guatemalan territory to go to the United States or Mexico,” Rodríguez said.
To cross Guatemala, Venezuelans must have a Guatemalan visa and to avoid irregular entry the borders with Honduras and El Salvador have been reinforced, but the flow continues through blind spots.
“You can see that in this case the border is still so permeable, both with Honduras and El Salvador and the 790 existing blind spots to enter Mexico,” said Fernando Castro, a migration analyst.
In addition, Castro recommends launching a campaign to inform Venezuelans of the new measures established by the United States to enter their territory.
“Hundreds of thousands of people are still on the way from Central America and Mexico. It is something that should be created, an outreach campaign by the ministries of foreign affairs to prevent this flow from continuing without understanding what requirements they have to meet now.”
The new measures establish that, to enter the United States, Venezuelans must have a sponsor, pass national security and public safety investigations, and those who try to cross the southern border irregularly are excluded.
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