AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN | TPS! – {HEART'S, FOREVER!}

As nations gear up from Coronavirus restrictions, safety precautions and vaccination modes, once again I began to reflect upon the layers of challenges that nations face that already existed, with additions from COVID-19. What I find interesting about COVID is that all nations including those classified as first world or third world have suffered. Of course the magnitude that is measured by the death toll reveals who has been hit harder or not. But what all nations upon a global / international level have in common, is that the world as we know it came to a stand still. Freedom of movements became restricted, domestic, international, and the conversation about closing borders arrived. Whilst this safety measure was seen as necessary, we can see how the already vulnerable, such as migrants and refugees became side-stepped, and conversations became covered up due to COVID-19.

the already vulnerable, such as migrants and refugees became side-stepped, and conversations became covered up due to COVID-19. #ShaziaBlog #Quote #Politics #AmericanRescuePlan
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We can connect this thought to the United States of America (USA) southern border between Mexico and the USA. The already existing migration situation was topped with what was and is still taking place in Venezuela. Individuals are migrating from Venezuela to neighbouring Columbia, many other Latin American countries, as well as the USA. I believe that President Biden and his administration made a generous gesture as they revealed the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for almost 320, 000 Venezuelan’s in America. And those who are lucky enough to migrate are given a chance to consider future paths, to work with community organizations to build a path for a brighter future.

I believe that President Biden and his administration made a generous gesture as they revealed the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for almost 320, 000 Venezuelan’s in America. #ShaziaBlog #Quote #Politics #AmericanRescuePlan
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This announcement is a continuation from former President Donald J. Trump. The announcement is a beginning step for America to position as a humanitarian, caring, nation, as well as connecting a contribution from a former President’s work. This also sets a tone of leaders who were once an opposition, revealing agreement and alignment, however, the Trump administration granted Deferred Enforced Departure program (DED) and the the Biden administration granted TPS. But we all know that nations have many more internal issues to consider, as well as those mentioned earlier with the writing of COVID 19. So as a nation makes this announcement for the vulnerable, we are also called to ask whose responsibility?

So as a nation makes this announcement for the vulnerable, we are also called to ask whose responsibility? #ShaziaBlog #Quote #Politics #AmericanRescuePlan
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Whilst I believe that America has been vested in regions such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, the Middle-East, Africa and various other countries in the eastern hemisphere, America must also focus its attention upon what is happening and what has happened for years at its south border, and the Venezuelan humanitarian crisis. Of course whilst attention is turned to these regions I believe that America cannot turn its eyes away from the East either as some scholars have suggested. But what is interesting about the Venezuelan humanitarian crisis is that it is taking place right here in the Western Hemisphere. So maybe the question is more about who or what becomes a priority? Or what will America’s strategy become when there are so many vulnerable populations and crisis’ worldwide to consider?

What is interesting about the Venezuelan humanitarian crisis is that it is taking place right here in the Western Hemisphere. #ShaziaBlog #Quote #Venezuela #Politics #AmericanRescuePlan
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I know that this is a significant step for the Venezuelan people who are living in America. But it is also a beginning. There is much more that needs to be done to re-build alliances with our latin counter-parts, including the political leadership in Venezuela. But as scholars and research has suggested health risk and re-emerging of disease spread will rise, if the humanitarian crisis is not contained (Beyrer et al., 2019). We are also put in a precarious situation due to the criminal networks and gangs that are linked to the Maduro regime (De Theije & Roekel, 2020) Which adds another layer of complexity to the level of involvement from the USA. But this does not mean that we should look away, but rather for Venezuelan political leadership to either allow for a new Government to form, or reach a compromise with nations to help its own country, thus revealing the need to resolve the political climate in Venezuela and to allow for humanitarian efforts (Ausman & I, 2019).

the need to resolve the political climate in Venezuela and to allow for humanitarian efforts #ShaziaBlog #Quote #Venezuela #Politics #AmericanRescuePlan
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For now I would agree with the many that TPS is a stepping-stone victory for Venezuelan’s in America.

References:

Ausman, R. C., & I. J. (2019). The devastating Venezuelan crisis. Surgical Neurology International, 10, 145–145.https://doi.org/10.25259/SNI_342_2019

Beyrer, C., Doocy. S., de la Hoz. F., Page. R. K., & Spiegel, P. (2019). Venezuelan Migration and the Border Health Crisis in Columbia and Brazil. Journal on Migration and Human Security, 7 (3), 79-91.

De Theije, M. & Van Roekel, E. (2020). Hunger in the land of plenty: the complex humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. Anthropology Today, 36 (2), 8–12.

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