The Biden administration has announced the resumption of direct deportations to Venezuela as part of its efforts to address the surging number of illegal immigrants from the country.
A senior Biden official stated that Venezuelans who fail to establish a legal basis for remaining in the U.S. will be sent back. This decision comes after Venezuela agreed to receive migrants who arrive irregularly at the southern border and do not qualify for relief.
The chaotic situation at the border, exacerbated by the influx of Venezuelan migrants, has prompted the administration to take action. In September alone, approximately 50,000 Venezuelans unlawfully entered the U.S., setting a new record and contributing to a spike in migrant apprehensions. The Biden administration had previously announced plans to grant temporary legal status to nearly half-a-million Venezuelans who arrived in the U.S. by the end of July, citing political instability in their home country as justification.
Despite the deportation order, a senior administration official clarified that it does not contradict the expansion of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelan migrants. The official emphasized that the administration has consistently deported individuals to countries with TPS designations after the date of the designation, a practice followed by previous administrations.
The situation at the border has deteriorated to such an extent that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas recently announced the resumption of border wall construction, a move that contradicts President Biden's campaign promises. Mayorkas waived 26 federal laws to facilitate the construction, citing the urgent need to prevent unlawful entries into the U.S. The new construction project will add 20 miles to the border wall in Starr County, Texas, an area experiencing high levels of illegal entry.
Mayorkas confirmed the deportation update during a press conference in Mexico, stating that Venezuelan nationals who arrived in the U.S. after July 31 and lack a legal basis to remain will be safely returned to Venezuela. The Biden administration aims to strike a balance between expanding safe and lawful pathways while imposing consequences on those who attempt to cross the border irregularly.
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