Since 2015, nearly 8 million people have left their home, with a vast majority migrating to Latin American countries – primarily Brazil, Colombia, and Peru – and many others to the United States, hoping to find refuge from violence, economic hardship, and political repression.
- Nearly three in every four Venezuelans living in the U.S. (74%) arrived after 2010.
- In 2022, nearly 270,000 Venezuelans resided in the U.S. without regular status.
- As of 2024, there were 344,335 Venezuelans with TPS holders and 117,320 parolees, who are at risk of deportation with the termination of these programs.
- As of 2024, there were 1,610 active DACA recipients of Venezuelan origin.
- As of 2024, 22,749 Venezuelans had final orders of removal.
- In 2024, the U.S. forcibly removed 3,256 Venezuelans. Of these, 3,123 were detained by CBP, while ICE apprehended 133 and none had pending criminal charges.
- Despite the resumption of deportation flights to Venezuela, the U.S. has deported hundreds of Venezuelans to El Salvador’s CECOT. This prison is known for abuses and has been described as a “black hole,” due to the lack of information it provides about detainees. These deportations have occurred under questionable justifications.
- Additionally, the Venezuelan embassy in the U.S. closed in 2023, making it difficult for those wishing to return voluntarily, as a valid passport or consular assistance is required.
Some characteristics of the Venezuelan population in the U.S.
In 2023, 18% of Venezuelans in the U.S. had no health insurance and less access to healthcare services than U.S. citizens. They were also more likely to have lower incomes and live in poverty than others. Most were young, with higher labor participation among people over 16 years of age.
Socioeconomic Conditions in Venezuela
- In 2023, 51.9% % of the population lived in multi-dimensional poverty. In the U.S., 13.0% of the population lived in poverty and 4.0% in extreme poverty.
- Forty percent of the population experiences moderate to severe food insecurity.
- In 2023, the average monthly income ranged from $10 to $347 USD. In 2024, the average weekly income for full-time workers in the U.S. was $1,192 USD.
- The Gini coefficient, which measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (absolute equality) to 1 (absolute inequality), was 0.51 in 2023.
- In 2023, 34% of people between the ages of 3 and 24 had no access to an education.
- In 2023 1.9% of people above 15 years old were unemployed, 1.5% were underemployed, and 8.7% had given up looking for a job.
- A recent study indicated that in 2020, 84.5% of the employed population were informal workers.
- Most recent estimates indicate that in 2021, Venezuela received $3.5 billion USD in remittances (8% of Venezuela’s GDP).
- Annual inflation stands at 71.7%, third highest in the world.
Security
- In 2023 there were 6,973 violent deaths, which includes homicides, deaths by police intervention, and those still “under investigation.”
- Deaths “under investigation” represent 58.3% of violent deaths in the country, which is alarming considering international standards establish that this category should not exceed 10% of those killed in police interventions.
- Femicides and gender violence are worrying: 127 women were murdered between January and September 2024.
- In 2023, 11% of households had been the victim of a crime and 47% of the population was afraid of being the victim of a crime.
- Extortion and protection rackets are widespread in the country, with the latter being the result of the lack of protection granted by the police.
- Different types of criminal groups operate in the country, including foreign drug trafficking organizations, security forces, corrupt officials, and guerilla groups.
Threats from Extreme Weather Events
Political Context
- In July 2024, President Nicolás Maduro won a third term, amid claims of fraud and repression. Electoral authorities have yet to produce tally sheets to support his claim of victory. While his term is set to end in 2030, it is highly unlikely that Venezuela will hold free and fair elections that allow a peaceful transition of power.
- Authorities have intensified repression and shut down avenues for dissent. Protests in response to July’s elections resulted in multiple deaths and arrests.
- Since 2014, there have been 17,882 politically motivated arrests.
- Venezuela is considered one of the most corrupt countries with the least political freedom in the world, ranking 178th out of 180 countries on the Corruption Perceptions Index.
- In 2024, Venezuela was classified as a country that is “Not Free”.
Without Reintegration Plans
The Venezuelan government has not announced a reinsertion plan to accommodate its deported nationals, leaving them exposed to very precarious conditions.
Reliable data on the conditions in Venezuela is hard to come by, as the government has stopped publishing official statistics. Several different non-governmental organizations have looked to fill this gap by carrying out studies of their own and publishing data on key indicators.
