Illegal immigrants to Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua cannot be deported, Biden says

Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore

During his speech Tuesday, President Joe Biden said it's illogical to return illegal immigrants who fled Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua back to their homelands.

During a Tuesday briefing, Biden said that fewer and fewer immigrants were coming from Central America than Mexico, in response to questions about why the border is "overcrowded." In reference to his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, he said, "It's a totally different circumstance."

According to the president, “What I am watching right now are Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua, and it is not rational to send them back.” The president said he is “work[ing] with Mexico and other nations” to stop the flow.

Over 2 million encounters have been documented so far this fiscal year by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, compared to 1.7 million in 2021 and less than half a million last year.

Despite fewer migrants coming from Mexico and some Central American countries, encounters at the southern border have increased in recent weeks due to these three countries.

Almost 57,000 illegal immigrants are from Mexico or the Northern Triangle countries, out of the about 158,000 who crossed at least once in August. Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua accounted for over 55,000 illegal immigrants; a jump of 175 percent from August 2021.

21 September 2022