Venezuela's political crisis has motivated its citizens to migrate in unprecedented proportions during the last two years. The highest inflation of the world, the lack of food and medicine, among other reasons, like insecurity, a decrease of opportunities, and decaying quality of life are driving Venezuelans to take a chance in foreign lands.
According to The World Bank, 655,400 people left the country in 2015, while the International Migration Organization counted 606.281 the same year. Recent studies indicate that neighbor countries like The United States, Colombia, Mexico, and Argentina are the most popular destinations. Spain is likewise a common destination.
Statistical data reflect an increase in political asylum petitions from Venezuelans all around the world. The report “Global Trends: Forced Displacement In 2016” from The United Nations Refugee Agency highlighted that in 2016 34,200 asylum petitions from Venezuelan citizens were received. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), also emphasizes that the numbers for Venezuela are “notable for having more than tripled compared to 2015”.
According to the Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data, Venezuela is among the top countries of origin for asylum requests in the United States. In 2016, it grew 182 percent compared with the same period of time in 2015. The study also indicates that “Venezuelan immigrants in the U.S. have higher levels of education than Hispanic immigrants overall — 53% of Venezuelan immigrants ages 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, compared with 29% of Hispanic immigrants”.
German Machado, a 20 years experienced engineer, decided to risk his retirement. His wife is a journalist who suffered persecution and threats. While reporting in May 2016, she was brutally beaten by supporters of Nicolás Maduro, the president of Venezuela. Machado and his family applied for political asylum. Now, they and their two children are living in the United States.
In the long term, this migration can cause a huge lack of professionals, talented people, and the labor force. This matter is worrying Venezuelans who stayed in their country. But the truth is that for survival, Venezuelans are escaping from a nation submerged in violence and chaos hoping to find a better place to raise their children, to live in peace and away from terror.