Factors such as frustration over failure to regain power and economic collapse
Following the controversial July presidential election in Venezuela, where President Nicolas Maduro secured a third term amid allegations of electoral fraud, foreign media reports have emerged indicating a surge in the number of Venezuelans leaving the country in disappointment over the election results.
According to major foreign news outlets on the 27th (local time), approximately 19,800 migrants crossed the 'Darien Gap,' the land route gateway to North America, during the month of September, marking a 69% increase compared to the previous month. The Darien Gap is a tropical rainforest located at the border region between northern Colombia in South America and southern Panama in Central America. Despite its harsh terrain, hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants cross this area annually en route to the United States and Mexico.
The renewed wave of migration from Venezuela, which had already seen many citizens leave due to devastating inflation, is largely attributed to President Maduro’s third term victory. Western media had previously anticipated a regime change by the democratic opposition, citing Venezuela’s economic collapse, hyperinflation, and sanctions on the oil industry resulting from deteriorating diplomatic relations during Maduro’s 11 years in power. However, Venezuela’s electoral authorities declared Maduro the winner.
Foreign media explained that "the hopes of the Venezuelan people to finally end the 25-year-long revolutionary socialism under the Chavez-Maduro regime have been shattered," and that Venezuelans, anticipating intensified crackdowns on dissidents by the Maduro government and stricter immigration controls following the U.S. presidential election, are rushing to emigrate. Mexican authorities reported detaining over 250,000 Venezuelans attempting illegal immigration between January and August.
The scale of migration from Venezuela is expected to continue increasing. According to a survey conducted last month by a local polling agency, 26% of respondents expressed an intention to migrate, with 6% having concrete migration plans. Venezuela’s total population is approximately 28 million, and around 7.7 million Venezuelans have emigrated over the past decade. Statistics released earlier this year by Panama’s Public Security Ministry showed that last year, a record high of about 520,000 migrants crossed the Darien Gap, with Venezuelans (328,667) comprising the overwhelming majority.
Adam Isacson, an immigration expert at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), analyzed, "The situation in Venezuela is worsening both politically and economically," adding, "This means that more people are likely to continue leaving." Anti-government protests demanding the overthrow of the Maduro regime have resulted in 24 deaths and at least 2,000 arrests so far. Opposition politician Edmundo Gonzalez, who claims victory in Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election, is currently in exile and refuge in Spain.
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