Attachments
Situation
Aruba
n December 2023, Aruba's Higher Appeal Court ruled on a case where a Venezuelan citizen was deported despite a pending asylum appeal and a request from the United Nations Human Rights Committee to the Government of the Netherlands1 to refrain from deporting the individual due to refoulement concerns. The Court held that lower courts failed its duties, resulting in the applicant's harm, and recognized the emergency resettlement efforts by an R4V partner. The case was returned to the General Court, and the Minister of Justice was instructed to cover appeal costs. Partners and media reports indicated that four boats attempted to enter Aruba during the reporting period. Two boats capsized, resulting in four confirmed fatalities and at least six persons unaccounted for. Additionally, it was verified that two boats from Venezuela arrived on 2 November and 19 December, carrying 21 refugees and migrants from Venezuela. All passengers were taken into custody.
Curaçao
On 26 December, a boat carrying 34 Venezuelan passengers, including a 2-year-old child, was intercepted, and passengers were detained while attempting to enter Curaçao.
Dominican Republic
By end-December, 24,973 Venezuelans in the Dominican Republic had received residency cards issued by the General Migration Directorate (DGM) as part of the Normalization Plan for Venezuelans (PNV). This included 21,341 temporary worker visas and 3,596 student visas.
Guyana
In late 2023, the ICJ addressed the Guyana-Venezuela territorial dispute, granting provisional measures to maintain the status quo and prevent exacerbation of the situation. Guyana and several other international actors opposed Venezuela's internal referendum on annexing disputed territory. Subsequently, on 14 December, Venezuela and Guyana committed to not resorting to force or making threats in their longstanding dispute over the border region with substantial oil reserves. Amidst these tensions, restrictions on the movements of Venezuelans in Guyana have been reported by partners, as well as more difficulties in obtaining stay permits.
Trinidad and Tobago
A landmark conviction under the Trafficking in Persons Act in Trinidad and Tobago marked progress in human rights enforcement One man was found guilty in absentia on five charges, including human trafficking, stemming from a 2015 raid. Separately, a significant judicial decision awarded compensation to Venezuelans detained in 2020, marking a milestone for refugee and migrant rights. Conversely, three Venezuelan women with children born in Trinidad and Tobago lost appeals to deportation orders. Also, 22 Venezuelans were rescued from the water by the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and crew members of the Tobago ferry 22 after their boat capsized.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of National Security acquired advanced technology from Germany to enhance immigration document verification. This included new equipment which would enable quicker detection of falsified passports and other forged identification documents. Separately, a cultural integration of Mexican and Venezuelan communities was showcased through the celebration of the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) in Trinidad, featuring music, poetry, and traditional dishes from both countries.