A Threat Analysis: Challenges to Human Security for Venezuelan Migrants Post-Migration to Trinidad and Tobago

The country of Venezuela which is a close neighbor of Trinidad and Tobago continues to confront a major crisis that has unleashed multiple forms of sociopolitical violence against its citizens and has created a plethora of problems and threats including poverty, insecurity, and human rights violations. This ongoing socioeconomic crisis began around 2013 and has become progressively worse. Hyperinflation, escalating starvation, disease, crime and mortality rates are commonplace resulting in massive migration from the country. About seven million persons have left Venezuela over the last ten years seeking better lives and safety. About one hundred thousand of these migrants are in Trinidad and Tobago. Outward migration caused by this situation has been linked to numerous new challenges to Venezuelan migrants in Trinidad and Tobago. This paper sought to understand the experiences of these migrants. A cross-sectional qualitative project was conducted to discuss the threat environment for these migrants analysing resettlement threat factors for health, security and general well-being through semi-structured interviews (forty). The analysis focused on understanding the experiences of Venezuelan migrants during the period 2014-2024 and was conducted during the period March 1-April 30, 2024. The research revealed threats related to health, safety, education, employment and general well-being of Venezuelan migrants that have informed migration policies, and human rights efforts for Trinidad and Tobago.

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