The Context of the Venezuelan Exodus
Over 7 million Venezuelans have left Venezuela since the beginning of the Bolivarian revolution, reflecting the country's experiences since the early 21st century. Despite coming to power through popular election and promising profound changes within democracy and respecting laws and the separation of powers, the government began making changes that violate laws and the constitution. They took control of all state elements, allied with internationally condemned governments supporting terrorism, such as Syria, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Cuba, and notably Russia, Belarus, and China. They also allied with foreign terrorist groups like the FARC and ELN from Colombia, Hezbollah, and other Middle Eastern terrorist groups. These radical changes led democratic groups to protest, which resulted in persecution, intimidation, and the imprisonment of hundreds of people over the 26 years of the revolution, including attacks using the armed forces' weapons and state-funded armed civilian groups. It's worth noting that it was normal to see companies and civil and military personnel from some of these countries active within Venezuelan military forts under the guise of construction companies.
All this has created a dangerous state for Venezuelans still fighting for democratic freedoms and has become a destabilizing factor for the region. Additionally, Venezuela is the country with the world's largest oil reserves and substantial mineral wealth, making it attractive to the governments of China, Iran, and Russia. This enormous wealth has been administered irresponsibly with extreme corruption permeating various levels of society, including opposition elements. It is estimated that more than $400 billion was embezzled up to 2016.
Venezuelan opposition groups have maintained a constant struggle, including street protests, political negotiations, and participation in elections to demonstrate democratic values to the world, even though it is known that the Bolivarian government controls the Electoral Organism (CNE), the Supreme Court (TSJ), and its electoral and constitutional chambers. These bodies resolve any disputes and also control the Bolivarian, Socialist, anti-imperialist, and deeply Chavista Armed Forces, which, according to the constitution, control and safeguard electoral centers and materials.
It is true that some regional, parliamentary, and consultative referendum elections have been won by the opposition and recognized by the state. However, it is also true and alarming that in response to these victories, parallel bodies were created that prevented opposition members from fully exercising their functions. In some cases, they were removed using the judiciary or even ordered to be imprisoned.
All this corruption, the dismantling of industries, expropriations of private property, irresponsible management of companies providing basic services such as electricity, water, and waste management, the oil sector, and expropriated companies collapsed when oil prices fell, coinciding with the death of President Hugo Chavez. This generated an economic and social crisis larger than the ongoing one but previously concealed by the state's vast wealth. This led to historical hyperinflation and a deep scarcity in all sectors of the economy, initiating a humanitarian crisis visible on the streets and highways of the Americas as hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans of all ages searched for opportunities.
With the currency destroyed, almost the entire population's savings were lost, leading to a real estate crisis with an enormous number of properties for sale or abandoned—a situation that still persists. Salaries and pensions hit historic lows, around $5 per month. The hospital crisis resulted in thousands of patients dying from lack of basic care and treatment for diseases. The state created a plan called CLAPS used to supply food to the most vulnerable, which it used as a propaganda tool to reduce international pressure. However, CLAPS has been used as a means of political control, supplying only those not opposed to the government.
Links to Drug Trafficking and Terrorism
The Venezuelan regime's associations have not only been with states linked to terrorism but also with drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. The notorious "Cartel of the Suns" involves high-ranking military officers, businessmen, and revolutionary politicians in high positions. These facts were revealed by the United States government, and mentioned by the governments of Colombia, Mexico, and Spain. In the United States, close relatives of Venezuelan first lady Cilia Flores were detained in the "narco nephews" case. Another nephew, Erik Malpica Flores, was implicated in money laundering, along with businessman Raúl Gorrín and Colombian businessman Alex Saab, responsible for most of the CLAPS negotiations and the arrival of Iranian oil tankers to Venezuela, avoiding U.S. sanctions. Saab was captured in Cape Verde, extradited, and imprisoned in the U.S.
Has the Situation in Venezuela Really Improved?
For those who see an improvement in Venezuela, we cannot deny that after reaching a peak inflation rate of 65,374% in 2018 and moving from average salaries of $5 per month to average salaries of $234, the government has spent millions to create a facade of improvement in the capital city and some tourist areas. They have spent millions for influencers, journalists, and some media outlets to show these improvements.
Billions of embezzled money have been directed to building construction in the capital and creating luxury malls and establishments where privileged Venezuelans live. These include those who kept their savings abroad, entrepreneurs linked to the regime, government corrupt officials, and some false opposition members. This creates the illusion of improvement. But are Venezuela and its citizens truly better off?
Today, over 50% of the population lives in multidimensional poverty. More than 90% have suffered water shortages, and almost 60% have faced electricity shortages. The average monthly food expenditure for a family is $550, while the average salary is $234, and pensions hover around $30 per month. More than half of the school population is out of the education system or has very low attendance, many due to food deficiencies. Schools and high schools only offer classes three days a week due to staff shortages or poor conditions. In terms of healthcare, as of August 2023, over 72% of the population could not access public health services. Medication shortages stood at 26.3%, and vaccination coverage is below the regional average. It is estimated that less than 15% of the population has health insurance and access to private clinics. In terms of gasoline supply, one only needs to visit the cities to see the long queues of people waiting for hours to refuel.
Elections and Repression
In political matters, new presidential elections were held in July 2024. The international community demanded transparency from the Venezuelan government and made concessions during negotiations, such as the U.S. government's release of drug traffickers Efraín Antonio Campo Flores and Francisco Flores de Freitas, nephews of the first lady, the release of Alex Saab accused of violating sanctions and money laundering, the lifting of sanctions on Erik Malpica and Electoral Tribunal President Elvis Amoroso, as well as restoring Chevron's oil exploitation concession and freeing Americans linked to CITGO. Despite these concessions, the government did not respect the popular will. There was no transparency or equal conditions for the electoral campaign and elections. The opposition began presenting voting evidence, leading to one of the worst repressions, with common citizens who were merely electoral witnesses arrested. Politicians and foreign citizens were also targeted, with kidnappings, murders, and tortures reported. Embassies sheltering opposition politicians were besieged. The elected president's son-in-law was arrested, and many were intimidated, including the mother of opposition politician María Corina Machado. Today, many are hiding, some are in common prisons, and others are in the regime's torture centers along with many who have endured years of torture.
Is It Safe to Return to Venezuela?
Today, we have an elected president who cannot enter Venezuela and an opposition leader who cannot leave the country, both tortured and displaced. Even foreign hostages have been kidnapped by the regime, as demonstrated on February 1st when President Trump's special envoy, Richard Grenell, traveled to Venezuela to request their release.
How can anyone say that Venezuela has stabilized and returned to normalcy when these events are happening right now? How can we talk about Venezuelans returning to their country safely and living a normal life when this is still unfolding? Venezuelans did not leave Venezuela for tourism or to change the scenery; they fled from hunger, precariousness, lack of opportunities, political persecution, expropriations of their assets, harassment by armed groups financed by the Bolivarian regime, lack of common freedoms and political rights, fear of expressing themselves and ending up in a torture center like Helicoide, disappearing or being killed. They fled betrayal by some opposition members who sold out to the regime and are now claiming they will participate in regional elections in April 2025. Others live without worries, protected from justice's harassment by large sums of money. Venezuelans fled to prevent their children from being trapped in educational precariousness that only promises hunger and misery.
Regarding foreign groups linked to terrorism, Hezbollah members still in Venezuela even use Venezuelan identification. Relations with ELN, FARC, Iran, extremist Syrian and Palestinian groups continue, as do ties with China and Russia. The hate speech from high government spheres is continuous.
It is evident that living in Venezuela is unsafe, and the state is hijacked by a gang linked to drug trafficking and terrorist groups. The U.S. government not only maintains the bounty on President Nicolás Maduro and his closest accomplices but has recently increased it and added other officials to the sanctioned list.
Today, many Venezuelans abroad live working hard, progressing, and contributing to those countries, paying taxes, and building their dreams, often struggling with language barriers, cultural differences, and, in some isolated cases, xenophobia.
Xenophobia and Legal Discrimination
It cannot be denied that some Venezuelans who left did so to commit crimes and live outside the norms. Every society has criminals and misfits, but it is discriminatory to group all Venezuelans together without incurring in discrimination, and if this is disseminated by the government itself, it is called Legal Discrimination.
When state members, such as public officials or government representatives, make negative statements or allegations towards a community based on their nationality, attributing crimes or illegal situations in a generalized manner, it can be considered legal discrimination. These actions can create a hostile environment and harm the affected community's reputation and well-being, subjecting them to complaints and legal actions.
Legal discrimination refers to any type of unfavorable treatment based on protected characteristics such as race, national origin, gender, religion, disability, age, among others, that is sanctioned or pursued by law. In the United States, various laws protect individuals against discrimination in employment, housing, education, and public services.
For example, if a public official makes discriminatory statements linking an entire national community to criminal activities without concrete evidence, it could violate civil rights laws and anti-discrimination protections. More grievously, if this comes from the Department of Homeland Security, the official responsible for canceling TPS 2023 for the community, claiming without evidence that TPS Venezuelans are or have been criminals or mentally ill, it is even more severe.
I conclude by saying that the good among us are many, and we are working day and night to progress and contribute to this great country that opened its doors to us.
Econ. Daniel Ramirez Sanchez
www.economiaylibertad.org
SOS SalvemosVenezuela
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