Amid a freeze on US foreign aid, Venezuelan migrants in Colombia, like Alexandra Guerra, face significant challenges as vocational programs close, hindering their efforts to build stable lives. The dismantling of USAID operations under the Trump administration has left many in despair, forcing some to reconsider migration to alternative countries. The cuts also deeply affect local aid workers, illustrating the pervasive impact of these policy changes.
Venezuelan migrants, having fled repression in their homeland, now face new challenges as US foreign aid is frozen. In Cali, Colombia, a vocational school that once empowered migrants like Alexandra Guerra has been shuttered, disrupting their paths to stability. The cancellation of USAID programs—which previously provided financial support and skill development—has left many with diminished hope and uncertain futures.
The aid freeze is attributed to significant policy changes by the Trump administration, leading to the rapid dismantling of USAID operations. These decisions have caused a suspension of numerous programs in Latin America and have effectively removed a vital source of economic opportunity for Venezuelans. Gustavo Vivas, a project director at USAID, lamented that the cessation of these initiatives contradicts the stated aim of reducing migration pressures.
Colombia hosts the largest population of Venezuelan migrants, and many individuals, including Guerra, had aimed to migrate legally to the United States through programs like Safe Mobility. However, these routes evaporated just as they were gaining momentum, compelling Guerra to consider other options, including potential migration to Europe, leaving her children behind.
Another migrant, Ayarith Olimpio, reflects on the impact of the aid freeze, noting that the vocational center not only provided essential skills but fostered a supportive community. She expressed her desire to lawfully migrate to a country that offers better prospects, emphasizing the humanity of migrants. Aid workers in Colombia also share in the uncertainty, facing contract terminations and a bleak outlook due to funding cuts, signaling a broader humanitarian crisis.
The cessation of USAID funding has dire consequences for Venezuelan migrants in Colombia, stripping away opportunities for training and stability. Many, like Alexandra Guerra and Ayarith Olimpio, are left reconsidering their futures without the support systems previously in place. The repercussions extend to aid workers, highlighting the wide-reaching impact of US policy changes.
Original Source: www.cnn.com
