Colombia to grant temporary residence permits to more than 150,000 Venezuelans

The Colombian government announced Friday that it will issue temporary residence permits for more than 150,000 Venezuelans in that country.
The measure will benefit Venezuelans who have legally entered "until this date of publication, that is to this day," said the Director of Migration Colombia, Christian Kruger Sarmiento, during a press conference.
According to Kruger, those who obtain this special permit can legally reside in Colombia for a period of two years.
"We are aware of the situation in the neighboring country and we want to lend a hand," added Kruger.
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Venezuela has been immersed since April a wave of anti-government demonstrations that have left more than a hundred dead.
The country also suffers from severe problems of food supply and medicine, as well as the highest inflation in the world.
Next Sunday will be held the elections for the National Constituent Assembly led by President Nicolás Maduro and rejecting the opposition.
Requirements
Kruger explained that, besides being in Colombian territory for the time of publication of the resolution and have entered the country legally, who wish to obtain a temporary permit must CAREC er of criminal record and not having been firm measures Deportation or expulsion.

He indicated that Migration Colombia has identified the potential beneficiaries, separated into two groups: more than 150,000 Venezuelans who entered legally but who have already expired the period of permanence and an additional 60,000 to whom this authorization has not yet expired.
The permit will last for 90 days, renewable for up to two years.
Benefits
The possibility of being hired to work and joining social security in Colombia are two of the main benefits that Venezuelans will obtain if they obtain this temporary permit.
Kruger explained that, in addition, his expedition will be free, so also can save the costs associated with the processing of a visa.
He added that on August 3, applications for the new permit may begin to be made through an application on the Migration Colombia website.
Venezuelans have become the first foreign community in Colombia , where they have emigrated driven by the crisis that their country suffers.
Venezuela is experiencing moments of great political tension in the face of this Sunday's election of the Constituent Assembly convened by Maduro.

Maduro says that this is an effort to restore peace in the country against what he considers as attempts by the opposition to overthrow him by promoting foreign intervention.
That initiative has been rejected by the Venezuelan opposition that accuses the president of wanting to establish a dictatorship, so he has mobilized to demonstrate his rejection of the Constituent Assembly.
The former president of the Spanish government José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has been making efforts this week trying to mediate between the parties.
This Thursday the Minister of Interior and Justice announced a ban on demonstrations and protests in the face of ANC elections.
The Venezuelan government prohibits demonstrations in the run-up to elections for the Constituent Assembly and the opposition extends the "takeover of Caracas" to the whole country
The measure would prevent the realization of the so-called Toma de Caracas, a mobilization planned for Friday by the opposition that, in a sign of rebellion, announced that it converted the call in the "Take of Venezuela" so as not to simply manifest in the capital, But to do so throughout the country.