The Venezuelan migration to the United States is a growing phenomenon, largely driven by the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. This is highlighted in a report by Genaro Mosquera Castellanos, a statistician from the Central University of Venezuela (UCV), who holds a postgraduate degree in Government Administration from the Inter-American Center for Public Administration (CICAP), an OAS body.
This report analyzes the demographics of this population, noted for its high educational levels, yet facing economic and integration challenges. It also discusses the volatility of U.S. immigration policies, including Temporary Protected Status (TPS), humanitarian parole, and asylum applications, and how these affect entry flows and the legal status of migrants.
It emphasizes the challenge of managing a population with diverse and constantly changing immigration statuses, often pushed towards irregularity by political instability. Future management of this population requires a complex balance between national security and humanitarian considerations, necessitating more stable and comprehensive policies.
The Report on Venezuelan Migration in the United States
In the last decade, Venezuelan migration to the United States has experienced exponential growth, primarily fueled by the profound humanitarian crisis plaguing Venezuela.
Although most Venezuelan migrants are in Latin America and the Caribbean—about 85% or 6.7 million—the U.S. has emerged as an increasingly significant destination. The Venezuelan population in the U.S. is characterized by high educational levels and strong workforce participation, although they face challenges of integration and underemployment.
The volatility of U.S. immigration policies, including fluctuations in TPS and humanitarian parole programs, has created considerable uncertainty, directly influencing patterns of irregular migration and generating a growing undocumented population. Managing this population remains a complex challenge, with a clear gap between humanitarian need and political responses.
Context and Evolution of Venezuelan Migration in the U.S.
Venezuelan migration is a direct result of “economic collapse, human rights violations, the deterioration of public services, widespread violence, and shortages of food, water, and medicines” in Venezuela, resulting in the displacement of approximately 7.9 million Venezuelans by December 2024.
While historically not the primary destination, the Venezuelan population in the U.S. grew by 592% from 95,000 in 2000 to 640,000 in 2021, reaching 770,000 immigrants in 2023, with an estimated 903,153 Venezuelans residing in the country in 2023, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
It is relevant that “75.1% of Venezuelans in the U.S. entered the country after 2010,” underlining that this migration is driven by the current crisis.
Demographic and Socioeconomic Characteristics
The majority of the Venezuelan population is concentrated in:
- Florida, 47-49%
- Texas, 14-15%
- Georgia, 4%
- New York, 4%
- New Jersey, 4%
The main metropolitan areas are Miami, Orlando, and Houston. This concentration “suggests the importance of existing diaspora networks to facilitate the arrival of new migrants.”
Venezuelan immigrants demonstrate a “high level of education.” In 2021, 57% of those over 25 had at least a bachelor’s degree, significantly higher than the 35% of U.S.-born individuals. Their labor force participation is notably high, with about 75% being part of the civilian workforce in 2023.
Despite their high qualifications, Venezuelan households have a lower average annual income—$71,900 in 2023—compared to the average, with a poverty rate of 17% in 2023. This “paradox” suggests “a significant underemployment or de-skilling issue,” possibly due to language barriers—59% report speaking English “less than very well” in 2023—lack of credential recognition, or limitations in legal work authorization.
Immigration Pathways and Legal Statuses
The report by Genaro Mosquera Castellanos notes that encounters by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with Venezuelan migrants at the southern border increased dramatically, from 49,000 in fiscal year 2021 to 266,000 in fiscal year 2023. This dynamic is “highly sensitive to political signals.”
Venezuela was designated for TPS in March 2021, covering about 607,000 Venezuelan nationals by January 2025. However, the “rapid succession of designations, extensions, and then terminations/rescissions of TPS by different administrations… demonstrates extreme political volatility,” creating “immense uncertainty” for beneficiaries. The work authorization for the 2023 designation expired on April 2, 2025, with no grace period, due to judicial decisions and the Supreme Court.
The Humanitarian Parole program initiated in October 2022 allowed for legal entry of Venezuelans with sponsors, with a cap of 30,000 per month beginning in January 2023 (also including Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans). By December 2024, 117,330 Venezuelans had entered under this program. Nevertheless, “the Trump administration ended the humanitarian parole program… on its first day in office in January 2025.”
Between 2021 and 2023, 1,340 Venezuelans were admitted as refugees. By December 2024, there were 132,272 pending asylum cases for Venezuelans, with a grant rate of 64.4% in 2024. However, by mid-2024, “Venezuelans and other migrants who crossed the border irregularly generally ceased to be eligible to apply for asylum,” creating a “direct barrier.”
Furthermore, 53,880 green cards were issued to Venezuelans between 2021 and 2023. The naturalization rate for Venezuelans is lower than the average for immigrants—25% in 2023 versus 53% for the foreign-born population—indicating that “a considerable segment of the Venezuelan population in the U.S. remains in a state of legal limbo or with a temporary status.”
Despite removals—amounting to 4,440 between 2021 and 2024—approximately 486,000 Venezuelans were estimated to be unauthorized as of mid-2023, making Venezuela the fifth largest country of origin for unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. “As legal pathways diminish, more Venezuelans may be pushed into irregular status.”
Impact of U.S. Immigration Policies
The report states that the “oscillating and often contradictory nature of U.S. immigration policies… creates an environment of extreme uncertainty and increased vulnerability for Venezuelan migrants.”
It argues that there is an apparent disconnect between the underlying humanitarian need and the political response. Despite the crisis in Venezuela leaving “13.5 million people facing critical needs,” recent terminations or restrictions of humanitarian policies seem to prioritize border control over humanitarian protection.