2015 Colombia–Venezuela migrant crisis explained

2015 Colombia–Venezuela migrant crisis
Date:	19 August 2015 – 12 August 2016
Place:	Colombia

The 2015 Colombia–Venezuela migrant crisis refers to a diplomatic and humanitarian crisis that occurred in mid-2015 following the shooting of three Venezuelan soldiers on the Venezuela–Colombia border that left them injured and President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro's response of deporting thousands of Colombians.^{[1] [2]} Maduro's response of declaring a state of emergency, closing the border to Colombia indefinitely and deporting thousands of Colombians that lived near the border,^{[3] [4]} struck fear in tens of thousands of other Colombians living in Venezuela resulting in their emigration from the country and a crisis involving separated families and Colombians seeking food and shelter.^{[4] [5]} The actions of President Maduro were questioned by human rights groups, the United Nations, the European Union and the United States.^[6]

Conflicts eventually lessened months after tensions initially flared in August 2015. By July 2016, the Venezuelan government allowed Venezuelans to traverse into Colombia once again, with hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans taking advantage of the opportunity in order to retrieve food due to shortages in Venezuela. On 12 August 2016, the Venezuelan government officially reopened its border with Colombia.^[7]

Background

Since the 1970s, Colombians had fled to Venezuela to avoid violent conflict in their homeland.^[8] In the 1990s, Colombians amounted to 77% of all immigrants in Venezuela, according to Raquel Alvarez, a sociologist at the Andes University in Venezuela.^[9] Going into the 2000s, Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez used record high oil revenues to fund populist policies and social programs known as Bolivarian Missions in Venezuela.^{[10] [11]} With such programs, the Chávez administration then granted Colombians residency, the right to vote and other social services; even offering bus rides for Colombian-Venezuelans across the border who wanted to vote for Chávez.^{[8] [12]} Colombians who received such benefits would often in turn support Chávez in elections.^[12] The creation of currency controls and subsidies under Chávez also allowed a business of smuggling to occur across borders.^[13] On the border of Colombia and Venezuela, Colombians would often take advantage of the Bolivarian government's subsidies and smuggle price fixed goods from Venezuela to Colombia in order to receive profits.^[14] Going into the 2010s, economic actions performed by Chávez's government over the previous decade such as overspending^{[11] [15] [16] [17] [18]} and price controls^{[19] [20] [21] [22] [23]} proved to be unsustainable, with the economy then beginning to falter, while inflation,^[24] poverty^[25] and shortages in Venezuela increasing. By then, Colombians who had emigrated to Venezuela became disappointed with Venezuela due to the economic collapse of its economy and increasing discrimination by the Venezuelan government and its supporters.^[9] Tens of thousands to possibly 200,000 Colombians had left Venezuela in the few years preceding 2015.^[9] According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, passports to Colombia increased 150% between March 2014 and March 2015.^[9] Repatriation assistance of Colombian-Venezuelans had also reached a record number in the first quarter of 2015 and in early 2015, Martin Gottwald, the deputy head of the United Nation's refugee agency in Colombia, warned that many of the Colombian refugees that had fled to Venezuela may move back to Colombia.^[9] The high influx of Colombians returning to Colombia worried the Colombian government since the return of Colombians would raise the unemployment rate and cause a strain on public services.^[9] In the 10 months preceding the crisis, 9,000 additional Colombians were forced to leave Venezuela according to the Association of Colombians in Venezuela.^[4] In 2014 and 2015 under the Nicolás Maduro government, the socioeconomic situation of Venezuela grew more troubled as the country entered a recession,^[26] shortages worsened^[27] and the inflation rate rose to the highest point in Venezuelan history to over 100%.^[28] The Venezuelan government blamed shortages in Venezuela on smugglers stating that as much as 40% of the basic commodities it subsidized were being smuggled out of the country,^[29] though economists disagreed with such claims stating that only about 10% of subsidized products are smuggled out of the country.^[30] According to The Washington Post, "lawlessness and smuggling are rife along the Venezuelan-Colombian border — but the trouble has been caused not by Colombians but by the Maduro government’s disastrous economic policies" and that "the flow is controlled not by poor migrants but by corrupt Venezuelan army officers".^[1]

On 19 August 2015, three Venezuelan soldiers were injured from gunfire on the border of Colombia and Venezuela.^[2] President Maduro immediately closed the border to Colombia in San Antonio del Táchira and Ureña.^[2] While President Maduro declared a state of emergency "to protect the people ... from criminals, from paramilitaries, from an economic war", others saw Maduro's actions as a distraction from the poor socioeconomic conditions of Venezuela and a way for him to blame Venezuela's problems on Colombia.^{[1] [3] [4] [8] [31]} President Maduro's confrontational actions were also compared to tactics used by his predecessor, Hugo Chávez,^[32] that were used as distractions from the problems facing his government,^{[33] [34] [35] [36] [37]} with accusations presented by the Venezuelan government rarely involving any substantial evidence.^{[34] [36] [38]}

Effects

On 20 August after the state of emergency was declared by President Maduro, Venezuelan authorities combed through designated areas on the border, checking the documents of residents.^[3] When Colombian families and many of their children who did not have their papers in order were discovered, they were forced from their shanty homes constructed of decrepit wood^[39] and sent to a football field, being held without food or water the entire day and were then deported later that night. Homes were marked with an "R" if the home was searched and "D" if the home was destined to be destroyed, though President Maduro also promised to demolish the entire neighborhood.^[3] Other Colombians were told after their houses were raided that they had 72 hours to evacuate their homes before they would be destroyed.^[32] Despite the declared state of emergency, the areas in Venezuela where the declaration was in effect saw little police activity and events such as fairs and parties occurred as usual.^[3]

On 28 August, Colombians could be seen crossing the Táchira River carrying their life possessions from Venezuela to Colombia.^[3] While authorities on the Colombian side assisted individuals fleeing Venezuela across the river under the sun, Venezuelan authorities could be seen on the Venezuelan side of the river, laying in the shade relaxing or on their cellphones.^[3] Later in the day, Venezuelan authorities had also prevented Colombians from crossing the river arbitrarily.^[3] Reports by some refugees also suggested that they had been mistreated by Venezuelan authorities,^{[32] [40]} with Venezuelan authorities allegedly damaging homes and stealing possessions.^[39] Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos quickly responded to the incoming migrants with his government constructing tents and living quarters in various buildings while also providing food and medical assistance for the displaced Colombians.^{[5] [14]} A subsidy of about $80 for displaced Colombians was announced with the Colombian government announcing that assistance of jobs for the deportees was in progress.^[32] President Santos also demanded that children be allowed to return to schools in Venezuela and for Colombians with belongings left in Venezuela to be able to receive what they own, stating that "Colombians need their fundamental rights respected".^[14] The Venezuelan government allowed the children to return to schools in Venezuela.^[14] The Colombian government also promised returning Colombians that citizenship would be granted for their Venezuelan family members, with Colombian foreign minister, María Ángela Holguín, stating that "we want families to live together, not to break them apart".^[40] Colombia also recalled its ambassador from Venezuela on 28 August with Venezuela recalling its ambassador from Colombia as well.^[40]

By 1 September, it was reported by the Colombian government that hundreds of children were separated from their families and that the Venezuelan government ignored requests to reunite hundreds of families that were torn apart during the crisis.^[41]

The Wayuu population numbering at about 600,000 people may also be affected by the closing of the border. Wayuu natives do not have passports and do not recognize the border between Colombia and Venezuela, with contraband brought from Venezuela not being seen as illegal by the Wayuu and tribal leaders warning of increasing social tensions from preventing trade.^[42]

On 12 September, Venezuela and Colombia send moving troops and armored vehicles along the border.^{[43] [44]}

On 13 September, Colombia is demanding an explanation from Venezuela after spotting two military aircraft flying in Colombian airspace, the defense ministry said Sunday. The confrontation comes amid a larger diplomatic rupture between the countries as Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has closed major border crossings and deported of thousands of Colombian nationals.^[45] On 14 September, another Venezuelan military airplane flew into Colombian airspace without permission on Sunday, the head of Colombia's air force said, the second such incident over the weekend that threatens to further complicate relations between the two countries. The Venezuelan aircraft crossed the border at eastern Vichada province and flew about 10 km (six miles) inside Colombian territory, air force General Carlos Bueno told reporters on Monday. He said radar detected two planes, but only one crossed the border. Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos has already ordered a formal protest and an explanation from Venezuela after two military airplanes were detected on Saturday in northern La Guajira province. Those aircraft entered Colombia, flew about 2.9 km (1.8 miles) over the border and then circled above a military unit.^[46]

On 15 September, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that at least 23,738 had returned or were deported to Colombia from Venezuela.^[47]

On 17 September, a Venezuelan fighter jet with two people on board crashed near the Colombian border late on Thursday evening after an "illicit aircraft" believed to be Colombian was found violating airspace, according to the Venezuelan government. It was not immediately clear whether the two pilots on board the Sukhoi Su-30 aircraft had been killed. The cause of the crash has not been determined.^[48]

On 18 September, about 15 Venezuelan soldiers entered Maicao municipality in eastern La Guajira province in apparent pursuit of an individual on a motorcycle who had attempted to cross the border into Venezuela, the Colombian army said in a statement. After the individual on the motorcycle entered a home, the soldiers burnt the abandoned vehicle and returned to Venezuela, the army said. Community members said they were mistreated by the soldiers, and shell casings, as well as the remains of the charred motorcycle, were found by Colombian troops, the statement added. The army will remain in the municipality and has turned over details of the events to the defense minister.^[49]

Reapproachement

Tensions between the two countries slowed months after the initial border controversy. Nearly one year later in July 2016, the Venezuelan government allowed Venezuelans to cross the border into Colombia on specific dates.^[7] In that month, over 200,000 Venezuelans poured into Colombia to purchase goods due to shortages in Venezuela.^[7] On 12 August 2016, the Venezuelan government officially reopened its border with Colombia, with thousands of Venezuelans, again, entering Colombia to seek escape from Venezuela's crisis.^[7] Through 2016, many Venezuelans sought to emigrate into neighboring Colombia following the reopening of the Venezuela–Colombia border.^{[50] [51]}

Reactions

Supranational bodies

•  – On 29 August 2015, the European Union External Action Service stated the closing of the border "followed by forced refoulement puts at risk the overall humanitarian situation, security and stability in the bordering region" further stating that "solutions should be found in full respect of human rights and to ensure the well being of the local population".^[52]
• Organization of American States – On 31 August, member nations of the OAS that included many allies to the Venezuelan government and relied on its subsidized oil "blocked a motion to convene a foreign ministers’ meeting on the expulsions".^[1]
•  – On 28 August 2015, concerned over the "reports of human rights violations occurring in the context of deportations of Colombian" stating that both countries should be settle the situation with "calm discussion and dialogue, firmly grounded in their obligations under international human rights law and refugee law", while concern was also expressed due to Venezuela's "declaration of a ‘state of emergency’".^[53]

Governments

•  – Paraguay's foreign minister, Eladio Loizaga, demanded that "the rights of migrants be respected, to be treated as human" and that "the situation faced by Colombian migrants should be considered with the greatest attention and priority by the countries of UNASUR".^[54]
•  – Barack Obama and the Department of State of the United States of America stated that they were "ready to work with both countries and other regional partners to find a peaceful, humane, and enduring solution", saying that they had respect for "secure borders and safe and orderly migration", though they urged attention upon "the worsening humanitarian situation" on the border.^[55]

Catholic Church

• Holy See – Pope Francis stated on 6 September that "bishops of Venezuela and Colombia have met in recent days to analyze together the painful situation that has sprung up on the border between the two countries" and that he could "see a clear sign of hope" from the meeting.^[56]

Non-governmental organizations

Human rights groups have condemned the Venezuelan government's acts of marking homes for destruction and then demolishing them.^[5]

• Amnesty International – On 26 August 2015, Amnesty International stated that countries have "the duty to maintain security and public order, including in border areas and in some extraordinary and unforeseen circumstances in the law, may declare a state of emergency for a limited period" though "these actions may not result in human rights violations". They continued, saying that "the Venezuelan state must ensure that the cases of all persons whose expulsion or deportation under consideration are individually examined in a fair and transparent procedure where they can challenge the expulsion and to have their cases reviewed" and that "Venezuela is obliged to protect the right to life, physical integrity, due process and judicial protection among others, even when a state of emergency applies."^[57]

Others

• President Maduro was also criticized for deporting Colombians with his actions compared to Donald Trump's illegal immigration political position, with the comparison of Maduro and Trump being quickly disseminated throughout the internet.^{[58] [59]} The Venezuelan government's tactics were also compared to the Nazi treatment of the Jews, with comparisons made to the deportations, Nazi ghettos and the marking of homes to be destroyed.^{[32] [39] [60]}
• On 6 September, hundreds of Colombians in Cúcuta protested against the closure of the border wearing colors of the Colombia national football team and carrying Colombian flags. Colombian-Venezuelans also participated in the demonstration.^[61]

See also

• Borders of Venezuela
• Colombia–Venezuela border
• Kumarakapay massacre
• Venezuelan refugee crisis

Notes and References

1. News: Venezuela manufactures a dispute with neighboring Colombia. 7 September 2015. The Washington Post. 1 September 2015.
2. News: Pons. Corina. Venezuela closed 2 of its borders with Colombia after a violent shoot-out. 5 September 2015. Reuters. 20 August 2015.
3. News: Neuman. William. In a Venezuelan Border Town, a State of Emergency Is Barely Perceptible. The New York Times . 5 September 2015. The New York Times. 29 August 2015.
4. News: Alvarez. Greta. Marcaletti. Mariana. Venezuela Is Forcing These People To Flee The Country With Their Furniture On Their Backs. 5 September 2015. BuzzFeed News. 28 August 2015.
5. News: Symmes Cobb. Julia. Brazil, Argentina seek to resolve Colombia-Venezuela border spat. 5 September 2015. Reuters. 4 September 2015.
6. News: Nicolás Maduro: Colombia backs plot to assassinate me. 7 September 2015. The Guardian. 31 August 2015.
7. News: Venezuelans cross into Colombia after border is reopened. 30 November 2016. BBC News. 13 August 2016.
8. News: Dreier. Hannah. Colombians who fled violence stunned by Venezuela's anti-immigrant crackdown. 5 September 2015. US News. 27 August 2015.
9. News: Kurmanaev. Anatoly. Medina. Oscar. Venezuela's Poor Neighbors Flee en Masse Years After Arrival. 10 May 2015. Bloomberg Business. 4 May 2015.
10. Book: Heritage. Andrew. Financial Times World Desk Reference. December 2002. Dorling Kindersley. 9780789488053. 618–621.
11. News: Corrales. Javier. Don't Blame It On the Oil. 10 May 2015. Foreign Policy. 7 May 2015.
12. News: Otis. John. Venezuela's Cross Border Vote for President. 6 September 2015. Public Radio International. 3 October 2012.
13. News: Venezuelans turn to fish smuggling to survive economic crisis. 10 January 2015. Reuters. 7 January 2015.
14. News: Schaefer Muñoz. Sara. Venezuela Causes Upheaval on Colombian Border Deportations along once-porous frontier leave citizens dazed and bereft; channel opened for schoolchildren. 5 September 2015. The Wall Street Journal. 4 September 2015.
15. News: Siegel. Robert. For Venezuela, Drop In Global Oil Prices Could Be Catastrophic. 4 January 2015. NPR. 25 December 2014.
16. News: Scharfenberg. Ewald. Volver a ser pobre en Venezuela. 3 February 2015. El Pais. 1 February 2015.
17. News: Corrales. Javier. The House That Chavez Built. 6 February 2015. Foreign Policy. 7 March 2013.
18. News: Gallagher. J. J.. Venezuela: Does an increase in poverty signal threat to government?. 29 March 2015. The Christian Science Monitor. 25 March 2015.
19. News: Barreiro C.. Raquel. Mercal es 34% más barato. El Universal. 4 March 2006. 29 December 2006. es.
20. News: Venezuela's economy: Medieval policies. 21 April 2014. The Economist. 20 August 2011.
21. News: Las principales causas de la escasez en Venezuela. 21 April 2014. Banca & Negocios. 27 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140422232415/http://bancaynegocios.com/los-principales-causas-de-la-escasez-en-venezuela/. 22 April 2014. dead. dmy-all.
22. News: EL ASCENSO DE LA ESCASEZ. 21 April 2014. El Universal. 13 February 2014.
23. News: ¿Por qué faltan dólares en Venezuela?. 21 April 2014. El Nacional. 8 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20140422232634/http://www.el-nacional.com/economia/faltan-dolares-Venezuela_0_278372199.html. 22 April 2014. dead. dmy-all.
24. News: Venezuela's economy: Medieval policies. 23 February 2014. The Economist. 20 August 2011.
25. Charlie Devereux & Raymond Colitt. March 7, 2013. Web site: Venezuelans' Quality of Life Improved in UN Index Under Chavez . Bloomberg L.P. . 7 March 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141107050220/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-07/venezuelans-quality-of-life-improved-in-un-index-under-chavez.html . November 7, 2014 . unfit .
26. News: Pons. Corina. Cawthorne. Andrew. Recession-hit Venezuela vows New Year reforms, foes scoff. Reuters. 30 December 2014.
27. News: En 2014 se registraron 9.286 protestas, cifra inédita en Venezuela. 25 January 2015. La Patilla. 19 January 2015.
28. News: Cristóbal Nagel. Juan. Looking Into the Black Box of Venezuela's Economy. 14 July 2015. Foreign Policy. 13 July 2015.
29. News: Venezuela seals border with Colombia to fight smuggling. 12 August 2014. AFP/Yahoo News. 30 August 2014.
30. News: Schaefer Muñoz. Sara. Despite Riches, Venezuela Starts Food Rationing; Government Rolls Out Fingerprint Scanners to Limit Purchases of Basic Goods; 'How Is it Possible We've Gotten to This Extreme'. 11 November 2014. The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company Inc. 22 October 2014.
31. News: Venezuela's Manufactured Border Crisis. The New York Times . 7 September 2015. The New York Times. 2 September 2015.
32. News: Mendoza. Pedro. Goodman. Joshua. Venezuela, Colombia pledge more co-operation over border tensions. 6 September 2015. The Globe and Mail. 27 August 2015.
33. News: Mogollon. Mery. Kraul. Chris. Venezuela commemorates Hugo Chavez amid economic and other woes. 18 March 2015. The Los Angeles Times. 5 March 2015.
34. News: Dreir. Hannah. VENEZUELAN CONSPIRACY THEORIES A THREAT TO CRITICS. 27 July 2014. Associated Press. 23 July 2014. 2 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402133150/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/venezuelan-conspiracy-theories-threat-critics. dead.
35. Web site: Maduro dice que telenovelas generan delincuencia. Informe21.com. 27 May 2016. 6 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160306122434/http://informe21.com/nicolas-maduro/maduro-dice-que-telenovelas-generan-delincuencia. dead.
36. News: Wallis. Daniel. Buitrago. Deisy. Venezuela's vice president says he's target of assassination plot. 27 August 2014. Reuters. 23 January 2013.
37. News: Lansberg-Rodríguez. Daniel. Coup Fatigue in Caracas. 10 July 2015. Foreign Policy. 15 March 2015.
38. News: Tegel. Simeon. Venezuela's Maduro is racing to collect 10 million signatures against Obama. 6 April 2015. GlobalPost. 2 April 2015.
39. News: Gupta. Girish. Distraught Colombians flee Venezuela as border dispute intensifies. 6 September 2015. Reuters. 26 August 2015.
40. News: Colombia 'to reunite families in Venezuela border crisis'. 6 September 2015. BBC News. 31 August 2015.
41. News: Colombian official: 299 children left separated due to deportations from Venezuela. https://web.archive.org/web/20151001010125/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-09/02/c_134581771.htm. dead. October 1, 2015. 7 September 2015. Xinhua News Agency. 1 September 2015.
42. News: Garcia. Jacobo. Desert tribe faces hardship as Venezuela fights smuggling. 13 September 2015. Associated Press. 9 September 2015.
43. Web site: Venezuela boosts military presence at border with Colombia. 27 May 2016.
44. Web site: A humanitarian and diplomatic crisis is unfolding on the Colombia-Venezuela border. Annette Idler. 10 September 2015. The Conversation. 27 May 2016.
45. Web site: Colombia Accuses Venezuelan Military Planes Of Invading Airspace. International Business Times. 13 September 2015 . 27 May 2016.
46. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/colombia-says-another-ven/2126600.html CNA (news channel)
47. Web site: COLOMBIA: Humanitarian Snapshot: Frontera Colombia - Venezuela. OCHA. 18 November 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151001222430/https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/system/files/documents/files/snapshot_colombia_esp_sep_2015_h1_v6.pdf. 1 October 2015. dead. dmy-all.
48. Web site: Venezuela says fighter jet crashes after entry of 'illicit' plane. 18 September 2015. Reuters. 27 May 2016.
49. Web site: Venezuelan soldiers entered Colombia, fired weapons: Colombian army. 19 September 2015. Reuters. 27 May 2016.
50. News: Casey. Nicholas. Hungry Venezuelans Flee in Boats to Escape Economic Collapse. 27 November 2016. The New York Times. 25 November 2016.
51. News: Woody. Christopher. 'The tipping point': More and more Venezuelans are uprooting their lives to escape their country's crises. 6 December 2016. Business Insider. 2 December 2016.
52. Web site: Statement of the spokesperson on the latest developments related to the border of Venezuela and Colombia. European Union External Action Service. European Union. 6 September 2015.
53. Web site: UN human rights office calls on Colombia and Venezuela to resolve border situation through dialogue. UN News Centre. United Nations. 6 September 2015.
54. News: Paraguay pide tratar "como humanos" a colombianos deportados de Venezuela. 6 September 2015. El País. 29 August 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150925102335/http://www.elpais.com.co/elpais/internacional/noticias/paraguay-pide-tratar-como-seres-humanos-colombianos-deportados-venezuela. 25 September 2015. dead.
55. Web site: Kirby. John. Colombia-Venezuela Border Dispute. Department of State of the United States of America. 6 September 2015.
56. News: Binnie. Isla. Oziel. Clelia. Pope sees 'hope' for Colombia-Venezuela border spat as bishops meet. 6 September 2015. Reuters. 6 September 2015.
57. Web site: Venezuela: Preocupación por graves violaciones a los derechos humanos en frontera con Colombia. Amnesty International. 6 September 2015.
58. News: Francis. David. Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro Does Not Appreciate Comparisons to Donald Trump. 6 September 2015. Foreign Policy. 25 August 2015.
59. News: Corrales. Javier. The Trump-ification of Venezuela. 7 September 2015. Americas Quarterly. 28 August 2015.
60. News: Santos Demands Colombians Living in Venezuela Should Be Treated with Respect. 7 September 2015. Latin American Herald Tribune. 26 August 2015.
61. News: Colombians along border with Venezuela march to protest frontier closure. 6 September 2015. Fox News Latino. 6 September 2015.