The Venezuelan Exodus: U.S. Immigration Policy in the Face of a Humanitarian Crisis

Abstract

After providing an overview of Venezuela’s current humanitarian crisis and its ensuing exodus, as well as of the interests the United States may have in Venezuela and its relations with the nation thus far, this thesis examines U.S. immigration policy as it relates to those Venezuelans seeking refuge from the crisis in the United States. Utilizing available immigration data, it paints a picture of the current landscape of affirmative and defensive asylum applications and adjudications. The crux of this thesis, however, lies in the information it gathers from a total of 23 interviews with both Venezuelan U.S. asylum-seekers and other individuals and organizations that, in varying ways, relate to Venezuela’s present situation and the massive migration of its citizens. These interviews are used to 1) identify areas for improvement within and surrounding the U.S. asylum system that may not be unique to Venezuelans – including issues of misinformation and misrepresentation, changing burdens of proof, and what is referred to as the ‘migratory limbo’ – and provide potential venues for reform, and 2) briefly examine the possibility of a temporary protected status (TPS) for Venezuelans and list some remaining considerations in the Venezuela case that may arise as the situation continues to evolve. The paper concludes with broader implications these analyses may have for U.S.-Venezuela relations and U.S. immigration processes more broadly, as well as a brief discussion of its limitations and avenues for further research. A full list of references follows the thesis.