Keeping your Own Citizens Out: Venezuelan Border Controls and COVID-19

This thesis analyses the human rights implications of the measures taken by the Venezuelan government at the Venezuelan-Colombian border during the COVID-19 pandemic. I will argue that the goal of these measures is preventing or impeding the return of citizens through "deterrence techniques" that have been historically used by other countries. This case's importance relies on the fact that the Venezuelan government uses these measures against its own nationals, rather than against unwanted immigrants. The first chapter of this thesis will provide an overview of the theoretical framework concerning migration and human rights protections. This will allow me to consider internationally established definitions, principles, and agreements, both in customary and conventional law, in the analysis of the Venezuelan case. The second chapter will describe the pre-existent waves of emigration in Venezuela, the current situation, and the recent international response to the crisis. This chapter will explain the underlying causes of current migration movements. The third chapter will discuss the impact of COVID-19 in Colombia and Venezuela and the measures taken by each government. Different factors such as access to health services, working conditions, xenophobia, and discrimination will be an important component of this discussion as I highlight the erosion of migrants’ rights and as I raise concerns regarding potential human rights violations. Finally, in the fourth chapter I will examine the Venezuelan response to returnees and I will compare Maduro's government's questionable measures to traditional “prevention through deterrence” strategies, highlighting the deleterious human rights effects of the former.