Peru starts demanding passports, visas from Venezuelans

  • Peruvian migration officers check documents of Venezuelan migrants after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
    1/10

    Peru Venezuelan Migrants

    Peruvian migration officers check documents of Venezuelan migrants after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
  • A police officer walks with Venezuelan migrants after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
    2/10

    Peru Venezuelan Migrants

    A police officer walks with Venezuelan migrants after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
  • A Venezuelan migrant child, rests while waiting with their parents to pass migration controls after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
    3/10

    Peru Venezuelan Migrants

    A Venezuelan migrant child, rests while waiting with their parents to pass migration controls after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
  • Peruvian soldier pass in front of a moto-taxi with Venezuelan migrants on the Pan-American Highway, after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
    4/10

    Peru Venezuelan Migrants

    Peruvian soldier pass in front of a moto-taxi with Venezuelan migrants on the Pan-American Highway, after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
  • Venezuelan migrants are transported, after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
    5/10

    Peru Venezuelan Migrants

    Venezuelan migrants are transported, after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
  • A police officer talks with Venezuelan migrants in the line of migrations office after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
    6/10

    Peru Venezuelan Migrants

    A police officer talks with Venezuelan migrants in the line of migrations office after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
  • Venezuelan migrants are transported in Peruvian Army truck on the Pan-American Highway, after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
    7/10

    Peru Venezuelan Migrants

    Venezuelan migrants are transported in Peruvian Army truck on the Pan-American Highway, after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
  • Venezuelan migrants climb-up on to Peruvian Army truck to be transported on the Pan-American Highway, after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
    8/10

    Peru Venezuelan Migrants

    Venezuelan migrants climb-up on to Peruvian Army truck to be transported on the Pan-American Highway, after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
  • Venezuelan migrants walk on the Pan-American Highway, after crossing the border Peru - Ecuador after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
    9/10

    Peru Venezuelan Migrants

    Venezuelan migrants walk on the Pan-American Highway, after crossing the border Peru - Ecuador after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
  • Venezuelan migrants stand on the Pan-American Highway outside an immigration office in an attempt to cross from Ecuador into Peru after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
    10/10

    Peru Venezuelan Migrants

    Venezuelan migrants stand on the Pan-American Highway outside an immigration office in an attempt to cross from Ecuador into Peru after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
Peruvian migration officers check documents of Venezuelan migrants after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
A police officer walks with Venezuelan migrants after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
A Venezuelan migrant child, rests while waiting with their parents to pass migration controls after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
Peruvian soldier pass in front of a moto-taxi with Venezuelan migrants on the Pan-American Highway, after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
Venezuelan migrants are transported, after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
A police officer talks with Venezuelan migrants in the line of migrations office after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
Venezuelan migrants are transported in Peruvian Army truck on the Pan-American Highway, after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
Venezuelan migrants climb-up on to Peruvian Army truck to be transported on the Pan-American Highway, after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
Venezuelan migrants walk on the Pan-American Highway, after crossing the border Peru - Ecuador after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
Venezuelan migrants stand on the Pan-American Highway outside an immigration office in an attempt to cross from Ecuador into Peru after stricter entry requirements went into effect, in Tumbes, Peru, Saturday, June 15, 2019. With its relatively stable economy and flexible immigration laws, Peru has become a main destination for millions of Venezuelans escaping hyperinflation, medical shortages and political repression at home. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
Associated Press
0

AGUAS VERDES, Peru (AP) — Dozens of riot police stood guard at Peru's northern border on Saturday, hours after new entry measures requiring Venezuelan migrants to hold a passport and humanitarian visa took effect.

More than 9,000 Venezuelans entered the country with just their national ID cards on Friday, the highest number ever recorded by Peruvian immigration authorities.

Peru's Foreign Minister Néstor Popolizio told the radio station RPP on Saturday that the mandatory humanitarian visa for migrants was a "beneficial" measure that would help Venezuelans obtain permission to work legally for 183 days.

He said that some exceptions would still be allowed for "minors who only have birth certificates and are in transit to Peru to meet up with their parents, adults in transit to meet their families, adults in extremely vulnerable positions and the elderly."

He also acknowledged that securing a passport in Venezuela is difficult, but said that "the majority" already enter with such a document.

According to Peruvian authorities, more than 820,000 Venezuelans have settled in Peru since 2016 of which 270,000 have sought refugee status.

Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra has said the new entry requirements will make immigration "safer and more orderly" and that the large influx of Venezuelan immigrants was making it harder for Peruvians to find jobs.

But human rights groups in the country have criticized the move, describing it as an attempt to lessen the numbers of needy people who are entering.

Stephanía Robles and her five-year-old son were two of the last migrants to come into the Andean country with just their IDs on Saturday.

"(I came) to look for a better life, my husband is in Peru in the city of Trujillo. My sisters are in Lima," the 30-year-old said.

Advertisement

Recommended Stories