GEORGETOWN, Del. - The Biden administration announced last week that the U.S. is resuming direct repatriation flights for Venezuelans who unlawfully cross the border and do not establish a legal basis to remain in the country.
Ziulin Moreno, originally from Venezuela, came to Delaware in December 2019 for a vacation. The pandemic hit two weeks before her flight to Colombia, leading her to cancel it after multiple rescheduling attempts.
"At that time, the situation in my country had become much more difficult, and I made the decision to request asylum," Moreno said.
She is now under temporary protected status or TPS, and the recent announcement from the Biden administration is not the best solution for her.
"I felt very sad because the situation in my country has not improved. Every day that passes, it is much more difficult for my compatriots to live there, so they all come with the hope of continuing their lives and building a home, a family, far from our homeland," Moreno said.
The recent announcement aims to stop the dramatic increase of Venezuelans who illegally cross the border into the United States.
"The reality is that it is a sad measurement to start deporting Venezuelans back to Venezuela, but it is also a very much-needed step moving forward," Rossana Arteaga-Lopenza, a Venezuelan living in Delaware, said.
Bryant García from La Esperanza urges Venezuelans in the area who might be unsure about their future to seek legal counsel and assistance.
"There are some people that will have a lot of barriers and some people that may not have as many barriers, and it's just important to start somewhere as soon as possible to get the answers and get the counsel to know whether or not you're eligible for some type of relief, because there are reliefs that you may not be aware of," he said.
Moreno has a message for those who will be returning to their country again.
"Don't be discouraged. When things happen, and we do not understand why they happen, time is what gives us the reason," Moreno said.
Venezuelans who arrived in the U.S. before July 31, 2023, are eligible to apply for TPS, allowing them to stay in the country without fear of deportation and providing them the right to obtain work authorization.
For assistance, contact La Esperanza by calling 302-854-9262 or emailing info@laesperanza.org.