Colombia will register thousands of Venezuelan migrants in an attempt to give them legal residence

Colombia will register thousands of Venezuelan migrants in an attempt to give them legal residence

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Colombia announced on Monday that it is launching an effort to register hundreds of thousands of undocumented Venezuelan migrants within its borders and provide them with legal residence.

Colombian President Ivan Duque said the move would allow Venezuelans in the country to illegally become eligible for 10-year residence permits. Migrants who already have temporary residence in Colombia will also be able to extend their licenses.

The move may allow some migrants to have access to resources such as health care, including COVID-19 vaccines, and legal employment more easily in Colombia, the Associated Press noted. It is expected to help up to 1 million undocumented Venezuelan citizens in Colombia.

“As we take this historic and transcendental step for Latin America, we hope that other countries will follow our example,” said Duke on Monday alongside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, according to the AP.

Grandi called the policy an “extraordinary gesture” for human rights.

Duke tweeted that the country expects to “provide assistance to those fleeing the dictatorship”.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken tweeted on Monday praising the policy.

“The United States is on Colombia’s side in supporting refugees and migrants as we work to rebuild and expand our humanitarian programs around the world,” he said.

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