Colombia’s response to the dramatic increase in the inflow of Venezuelans into its territory is characterized by idiosyncrasies. Geopolitical considerations play a big part in preventing the official construction of the Venezuelan refugee in the problematic terms that we have seen in other places. However, the Colombian government has been navigating a complex set of considerations. On the one hand, it has almost completely ignored in this policy development the reference to international instruments such as the Geneva Convention and the Cartagena Declaration. On the other hand, Colombia has practically open its borders and is pursuing a strategy of regularization. Even so, it is actively seeking whatever international, institutional and financial support it can get, and it seems very determined to maintain the international status of this “crisis”. This paper seeks to examine this approach from a comparative and historical perspective and to analyse it various implications.
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