Latin America Advisor 2024-10-31 – Inter-American Dialogue

LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

A daily publication Of the dialogue

October 31, 2024

Will Venezuela’s Crisis Mean Higher Migration Levels?

The number of migrants crossing the treacherous Darién Gap, which separates Panama from Colombia, has surged since August. Migrants passing through the gap are pictured. // File Photo: Colombian Government.

Q

Migrant crossings through the Darién Gap have surged since August, the Panamanian government announced on Oct. 11. More than 80 percent of the migrants passing through the Darién Gap in September were Venezuelans, and the increase came amid a crackdown in Venezuela following the country’s disputed presidential election. How has Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis changed in the wake of the election? How might migration through the Darién Gap shift over the coming months? How does the evolving migration crisis in Venezuela play into the U.S. presidential election, and how would the two candidates’ policy positions affect the United States’ role in the crisis?

A

José Enrique Arrioja, managing editor of Americas Quarterly and senior director of policy at Americas Society/Council of the Americas: “Venezuela’s societal debacle will most likely worsen. Nicolás Maduro’s fraudulent attempt to stay in power has opened a new political era in the country—with an autocratic, hegemonic state under renewed international isolation—creating a scenario that will only cause Venezuelans more suffering. Even with the nation’s GDP expected to grow 3 percent this year, the minimum salary is little more than $3 per month at the official—albeit distorted—exchange rate, and annual inflation is nearly 60 percent. The government has implemented special cash payments, including an emblematic ‘war bonus,’ that bring the average monthly wage for most public employees to $130. But these incentives barely help…”

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ABOUT THE LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

The Inter-American Dialogue publishes the Latin America Advisor every business day for a distinguished membership of informed corporate leaders, scholars, and government officials invested in Latin America’s development and future. The Advisor‘s highly regarded Q&A section covers questions submitted by subscribers themselves. Commentators regularly include heads of state, business leaders, diplomats, economists, analysts, and thought leaders from around the world. Many of the world’s largest and fastest-growing companies subscribe to the Advisor. To subscribe, click here. For terms and conditions, click here. For more information, contact Gene Kuleta, editor of the Advisor, at gkuleta@thedialogue.org.

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Gene Kuleta
Editor
P. 202.463.2920
E. gkuleta@thedialogue.org

Carl David
Goette-Luciak
Reporter

Nili Blanck
Reporter

board of advisors

Diego Arria
Director,
Columbus Group

Merike Blofield
Professor of Political Science,
University of Hamburg

Devry Boughner Vorwerk
CEO,
DevryBV Sustainable Strategies

Joyce Chang
Global Head of Research,
J.P. Morgan

Marlene Fernández
Corporate Vice President for Gov’t Relations,
Arcos Dorados (McDonald’s)

Peter Hakim
President Emeritus,
Inter-American Dialogue

Donna Hrinak
Director,
Adtalem Global Education

Jon E. Huenemann
Council Member,
GLG Inc.

James R. Jones
Chairman,
Monarch Global Strategies

Craig Kelly
Senior Director,
Int’l Gov’t Relations,
Exxon Mobil

Barbara Kotschwar
Professor of Political Economy,
Georgetown University

John Maisto
Director,
US Education Finance Group

Nicolas Mariscal
Chairman,
Grupo Marhnos

Thomas F. McLarty III
Chairman,
McLarty Associates

Beatrice Rangel
Director,
AMLA Consulting

Ernesto Revilla
Head of Latin American Economics, Citi

Gustavo Roosen
President,
IESA

Andrés Rozental
President, Rozental &
Asociados

Shelly Shetty
Managing Director,
Sovereigns, Fitch

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