Thread w/ photos: It's the last day before Ecuador's new visa policy closes its door to most Venezuelans.
Thousands of migrants are rushing to get in, waiting in line for a full day to cross the Ecuadorian border.
Below, a family settles in for the night atop their luggage.
Thousands of migrants are rushing to get in, waiting in line for a full day to cross the Ecuadorian border.
Below, a family settles in for the night atop their luggage.
This place, Rumichaca, is in the Andean highland where temperatures drop to ~40 degrees F at night. Lots of Venezuelans arrive unprepared and sleep huddled in all their clothes and blankets.
Two designated migration lines for Venezuelans are packed against barricades. (There is separate line for all other nationalities entering/exiting Colombia.)
Up until now, Venezuelans have been able to cross with any form of identification, but tomorrow Ecuador joins Peru and Chile in requiring visas in passports. Here, Yurima Gutierrez prepares her documents outside the Colombia Migration office.
Some have criticized the move stating it won't halt the flow of migration, but instead force migrants into informal, dangerous crossings.
"You can't stop Venezuelans from leaving because the Venezuelans don't have any choice. There is no future in Venezuela," Gutierrez said.
"You can't stop Venezuelans from leaving because the Venezuelans don't have any choice. There is no future in Venezuela," Gutierrez said.
Once individuals/families get to Ecuadorian side, it is equally crowded with people in line.
Here: Henesi Reyes is pictured with her two children waiting outside the Ecuador Migration office. She must travel through Ecuador to get to Peru, where her husband waits for them.
Many have similar stories of trying to reunite with a family member elsewhere in South America.
Many have similar stories of trying to reunite with a family member elsewhere in South America.
Not everyone is rushing to Ecuador. On the highway, I found a Venezuelan family who had hitchhiked back into Colombia from Peru. There, a scammer ruined their migration and, defeated, they wanted to return to a Venezuelan community in a warm place closer to home.
Some other scenes of the family: Dariana, 6, smiles as her father hugs her in the cold/ &/ Dayana Pena puts a double layer of socks on her daughter while they wait alongside the highway for a ride.
Yeffeson Roja, 21, draping a Venezuelan flag across his chest, leads his companions down the road towards the Ecuadorian border after traveling more than 1,000 miles from home.
Many continue to arrive at the border between Colombia and Ecuador.
Still not clear what will happen to those still waiting once midnight strikes and the new regulations take effect.
And Colombia remains standing alone in bearing the brunt of the massive Venezuelan exodus.
Still not clear what will happen to those still waiting once midnight strikes and the new regulations take effect.
And Colombia remains standing alone in bearing the brunt of the massive Venezuelan exodus.
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