Venezuela

a group of tourists take photos of the birds perched on the balcony rails

Macaws lighten things up in Venezuela’s capital, and form a special bond with residents

Blue and gold macaws, a species non-native to the city, have developed a relationship with the residents of Caracas, Venezuela. However, the birds’ future is uncertain as their habitats are becoming increasingly endangered.

Macaws lighten things up in Venezuela’s capital, and form a special bond with residents
US dollars are now commonly used by businesses in Venezuela. The informal adoption of the dollar has helped to decrease inflation and product shortages.

Venezuela’s public sector workers take on multiple side jobs just to get by

Venezuela’s public sector workers take on multiple side jobs just to get by
Small canoes piled next to each other on a waterway

'I put myself in their shoes': Migrants to Europe find empathy on a small island

'I put myself in their shoes': Migrants to Europe find empathy on a small island
St. Paul and St. Andrew is located on West 86th street, in Manhattan’s Upper West Side.

New York City is trying to turn houses of worship into shelters

New York City is trying to turn houses of worship into shelters
Children all over a colorful classroom

This Massachusetts school district focuses on the well-being of homeless immigrant students

This Massachusetts school district focuses on the well-being of homeless immigrant students
prison getting raided

What is behind the seizure of Venezuela's most-notorious prison?

In Venezuela, security forces recently seized one of the country’s most-notorious prisons, with the mission of dismantling a transnational criminal gang that was ruled from inside. But the head of the gang was able to escape, and now, countries across South America are searching for him.

What is behind the seizure of Venezuela's most-notorious prison?
mopeds and motorbikes lined up outside of a hotel

A new underground gig economy is booming in New York City as migrants wait for work permits

The Biden administration announced it will grant work permits for nearly half a million Venezuelans. City officials in New York have been calling for it, as tens of thousands of migrants, mainly from Venezuela, have arrived in the city in recent months. However, the process of applying for the legal right to work can take months.

A new underground gig economy is booming in New York City as migrants wait for work permits
a man standing in front of a colorful bottle cap mural

Venezuelan artist uses recycled bottle caps to create large eco-murals

Oscar Olivares plans to take his ecological art global in hopes of promoting sustainable practices and educating communities on how to recycle.

Venezuelan artist uses recycled bottle caps to create large eco-murals
After migrants arrive in Capurgana's harbor, they are loaded on tuk-tuks and taken to the shelter on the edge of town.

Migration across Darién Gap changes Colombian village’s economy

In the small village of Capurgana, at the entrance to the Darién jungle and near Colombia’s border with Panama, hundreds of villagers now work as guides and porters leading migrants across the rainforest.

Migration across Darién Gap changes Colombian village’s economy
A group of Venezuelan migrants begins the grueling three day trek across the Darien Gap, as they leave the Colombian village of Capurgana.

As Title 42 ends, more migrants from South America are crossing the Darién jungle en route to US

In Capurgana, a small town on the southern edge of the Darién Gap in Colombia, about 300 people are arriving each day to make the grueling trek across the jungle, which lasts three to four days.  

As Title 42 ends, more migrants from South America are crossing the Darién jungle en route to US
The view from the Emerald Line commuter rail, which follows the Pinheiros river and ends at Vila Natal, one of the enclaves of Venezuelan migrants in São Paulo.

'We have to fight': Venezuelan women lead migration to Brazil

Yoselin Calcurian, 35, is among some 400,000 Venezuelans who went to Brazil, fleeing economic collapse and political chaos. She and many others say they are now struggling to find jobs and learn a new language.

'We have to fight': Venezuelan women lead migration to Brazil
US President Joe Biden and Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right, chat as they gather for a group photo at Castle Elmau in Kruen, near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, on Sunday, June 26, 2022. 

Insult to injury: Part I

This week's Critical State, a foreign policy newsletter by Inkstick Media, takes a deep dive into the function of insults, name-calling and other types of undiplomatic language.

Insult to injury: Part I
Migrants from Venezuela cross into Chile from the Bolivian border near Colchane, Chile

Chile grapples with transnational criminal organizations targeting migrants and locals

More than 7 million Venezuelans have left their homeland since 2015 amid ongoing economic and political crises in their country. And with ineffective border security, criminal gangs are increasing their efforts to take advantage of the migrants.

Chile grapples with transnational criminal organizations targeting migrants and locals
Venezuelan migrants board a boat in the Colombian city of Necocli that will take them closer to Panama, the next stop on the way to the United States

New Biden policy leaves thousands of Venezuelan migrants stranded

The Biden administration announced a plan that will automatically reject all Venezuelans seeking asylum at the US border with Mexico if they enter the country without authorization. The deal will only benefit a fraction of asylum-seekers.

New Biden policy leaves thousands of Venezuelan migrants stranded
A Venezuelan cargo truck adorned with Venezuelan flags and balloons crosses the Simon Bolivar International Bridge during a ceremony to mark the bridge's reopening to cargo trucks between Cucuta, Colombia, and San Antonio del Tachira, Venezuela

Colombia and Venezuela reopen shared border after years of closure

Residents from Colombia and Venezuela turned out in large numbers last week to welcome the reopening of their shared border to vehicles. Two commercial trucks, covered with the respective flags of each country, crossed the border point, marking the end of seven years of closure.

Colombia and Venezuela reopen shared border after years of closure