Colombian Congress must debate over Colombian citizenship for migrants victims of political and economic crisis in Venezuela

The initiative, led by the Colombian Senator Andrés García Zuccardi, proposes citizenship by adoption for Venezuelans living up until December 2018 in Colombia. The debate should take place in the coming days looking to solve the current migrational crisis.

The bill was presented in Colombia’s Congress and seeks to amend the law known as the Colombian Nationality Law (Law 43 of 1993). The bill, proposed by Senator Andrés García Zuccardi, seeks to give an opportunity to venezuelan victims of the current political and economic crisis in the neighboring country: the right of choosing to have both citizenships and becoming “Colombo-Venezuelans”.

Colombia is the main recipient of refugees from the institutional and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. According to figures from colombia’s migration office (Migración Colombia), more than one million venezuelans have taken refuge in Colombia, and close to 500,000 venezuelans have an undefined migrational status, but analysts argue that the numbers are much higher.

In order for migrants to have access to public services inside Colombia, such as health, education and legal job opportunities, a Special Permit is required (a temporary document issued by Migración Colombia). Without this document it is impossible for them to have a legal job and places them in a situation of vulnerability.

The massive migration of Venezuelans to Colombia also seems to have started causing a phenomenon of xenophobia in the main cities of the country. Venezuelans who are now residing in Colombia, can tell how they are sometimes rejected and discriminated because of their accent.

In addition, they are victims to inferior working conditions, and those who do not have permanent residence permits can’t be hired with a legal contract. This situation has pushed them to work illegally in the streets, traffic lights and public transportation systems amongst other illegal jobs.

According to Senator Andrés García Zuccardi, «(…) the economic costs, associated with the migrational crisis and illegal jobs, are being paid for today by all colombian society and are much higher than if preventive measures were to be implemented: in health, for example, according to the ruling of the Colombian Constitutional Court, there is a legal obligation to assist venezuelan citizens in any situation of urgency but no obligation for preventive medical assistance (…). World history has proven that it is URGENT for the Nation of Colombia, in an act of humanitarianism and solidarity – but also in terms of national defense and economic intelligence – to guarantee preventive health measures, education, and LEGAL labor opportunities as well as all other rights for this particular population; human beings that find themselves currently in grave vulnerability but also have great potential to represent a huge asset in terms of human capital for Colombia in the near future».

By: Press team of Andrés García Zuccardi, Senator of the Republic of Colombia, and member of the Economic Affairs Committee.

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Photo by: KienyKe