U.S. to deport Venezuelans who illegally cross the southern border

The United Nations says over 6 million Venezuelans have left the country since 2014

YUMA, Ariz. (KECY, KYMA) - In a major change to immigration policy Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security announced they reached an agreement with Mexico to rapidly deport Venezuelan migrants who cross the border illegally.

A new sponsorship program will allow up to 24,000 Venezuelans to fly to a U.S. airport and live in the country for two years.

The program explicitly states that Venezuelan migrants who illegally cross the southern border will not be eligible for the program.

According to the United Nations, over 6 million Venezuelans have left their country since 2014 due to an economic collapse.

Some of those 6 million have crossed the border into Yuma.

“I left Venezuela because many people are dying of hunger. The president runs our country very badly," Humberto Ceballo told KYMA on August 8th.

It is unlikely Venezuelans who have already crossed into the U.S. illegally would be deported now under the new policy.

As their asylum claims, which they have a legal right to make under existing U.S. immigration law, would be currently pending.