Venezuelans top nationality seeking asylum in US

Venezuelans top nationality seeking asylum in US
Published time: 24 May, 2017 00:35
Edited time: 24 May, 2017 18:08

For the first time, the number of Venezuelans requesting asylum status
in the US have surpassed applicants from China, Guatemala, El Salvador
and Mexico. Venezuelan applications are expected to continue rising
after a 160 percent increase in just one year.
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In fiscal year 2016, Venezuelans seeking asylum in the US shot up 160
percent compared to the previous year, jumping from 5,605 to more than
14,700, CNN reported Tuesday.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services data reportedly shows citizens
of Venezuela will likely continue driving up the record number of asylum
applications.

Nearly 50 people have died during three months of protests against
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro amid an economic crisis and
subsequent turmoil.

The Venezuelan government blames foreign influence and international
media coverage for fanning the flames of crisis in the country.

"The situation in Venezuela is that what has happened in the past two
weeks does not affect a mere one percent of the country's territory, but
it is being presented at the international level as though the country
is at war," Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez told RT Spanish
earlier in May.

The main goal of the ongoing protests was to create "a mess in our
society" and violently oust Maduro instead of seeking new elections, the
head of the commission for the National Constituent Assembly Elías José
Jaua Milano told RT earlier this month, as the protest leaders are "not
interested in taking part in the elections when the situation is
politically, economically and socially stable."

Last week, President Donald Trump called the Venezuelan situation "a
disgrace to humanity" and the US has placed sanctions on the country
since Maduro expanded his executive authority following opposition
victories in 2015 congressional elections.

The International Monetary Fund, which has not interacted with the
Venezuelan government since 2004, warns that the country's currency is
rapidly losing value with monetary inflation at 720 percent – the worst
in the world and still worsening, the Financial Times reported.

Last year marked the first time US net foreign direct investment in
Venezuela was negative, and during fiscal year 2015, Venezuelan citizens
were among the top 10 nationalities overstaying their visas in the US,
according to the Department of Homeland Security, the Financial Times
reported.

READ MORE: Tear gas & pellets used in clashes at Venezuelan anti-govt
protest, injuries reported (GRAPHIC)

Last month, Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-Florida) re-introduced House
Resolution 3744, the Venezuelan Refugee Assistance Act, which seeks to
grant permanent residency to Venezuelan nationals who were present in
the US on January 1, 2013, or in the country for at least one year and
who were never convicted of specified crimes or involved in the
persecution of others."

https://www.rt.com/usa/389510-venezuela-asylum-applications-us/