Venezuelan Migrants Breakfast at Shelter in Assis, Brazil – June 20, 2024
Migrants, law enforcement officials, and analysts note that President Joe Biden’s decision to temporarily suspend asylum has prompted a wait-and-see attitude among those currently in Brazil. This pause has disrupted their plans to reach the United States. (AP Photo/Martín Mejía)
The Venezuelan elections held on Sunday are expected to influence migration flows, regardless of the election’s outcome.
The ongoing instability in the South American nation over the past decade has driven more than 7.7 million people to leave, a crisis the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) describes as the largest exodus in recent Latin American history.
While most Venezuelan emigrants have settled in other Latin American and Caribbean countries, a growing number are now setting their sights on the United States.
Venezuelan Elections: Maduro Declared Winner Amidst Controversy
Live Coverage Updates
4:43 AM GMT+5
Voters queued in long lines to cast their ballots.
4:32 AM GMT+5
“The ballots reflect what the streets have already spoken,” asserts Nicolás Maduro’s son.
4:31 AM GMT+5
A voter expresses concern over delays in closing polling stations: “They are fearful. They are scared.”
4:22 AM GMT+5
Kamala Harris emphasizes, “The will of the Venezuelan people must be respected.”
4:11 AM GMT+5
Who is the evangelical pastor featured on the ballots?
3:26 AM GMT+5
Polling station closures are delayed by over an hour; stations remain open if there are still voters in line.
3:23 AM GMT+5
Past 6:00 PM in Venezuela, the official closure of polling stations has yet to be announced.
3:22 AM GMT+5
Reports indicate that popular militias are obstructing vote counting observation.
3:19 AM GMT+5
Edmundo González declares that the moment for change in Venezuela has arrived.
3:13 AM GMT+5
Nicolás Maduro faces his most significant electoral challenge since coming to power.
2:51 AM GMT+5
Minutes before polling stations close, Maduro urges citizens to vote.
2:50 AM GMT+5
What are the thoughts of voters supporting Nicolás Maduro?
2:45 AM GMT+5
The United States has sanctioned the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
2:38 AM GMT+5
Hugo Chávez’s stronghold shows a relatively high voter turnout.
2:24 AM GMT+5
A representative of the main opposition coalition reports being denied entry to the National Electoral Council.
2:12 AM GMT+5
Despite Chávez’s support, Maduro’s 2013 victory was narrowly achieved.
1:46 AM GMT+5
If Maduro wins, more Venezuelans are likely to emigrate.
12:55 AM GMT+5
Anti-government chants echo in the state of Miranda.
Updated 11:30 AM GMT+5, July 29, 2024
Our live updates for today have concluded, yet the story is far from over. For a detailed summary of the Venezuelan elections, visit apnews.com.
The electoral authority has announced President Nicolás Maduro as the victor, a declaration met with severe contention from the opposition, which asserts its own triumph in the presidential race. This dispute ushers in a new chapter of tension between the government and its critics.
Opposition candidate Edmundo González stated, “The Venezuelans and the global community are fully aware of what transpired.”
Several international leaders have rejected the results declared by the National Electoral Council (CNE), casting further doubt on the legitimacy of the election outcome.
Why Will the Venezuelan Presidential Elections Impact Migration?
By REGINA GARCÍA CANO
11:30 AM GMT+5
The recent Venezuelan elections are poised to influence migration patterns regardless of the electoral victor.
The decade-long instability in Venezuela has led to the displacement of over 7.7 million individuals, a crisis the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) deems the largest exodus in recent Latin American history.
While the majority of Venezuelan émigrés have settled in Latin America and the Caribbean, an increasing number are setting their sights on the United States.