The Harsh Reality Behind Venezuelan Migrants’ Return: Debt, Corruption, and Failed U.S. Policies

For Venezuelans like Yosbelin Pérez, the dream of escaping economic despair in search of a better life in the United States turned into a nightmare of debt and danger upon forced return. Pérez once crafted tens of thousands of aluminum budares—essential cooking tools for her compatriots—but today she owes over $5,000 after a grueling migration journey cut short by recent U.S. immigration crackdowns.This isn’t just one family’s story; it is emblematic of the broader collapse facing millions fleeing Venezuela’s political and economic chaos. Since 2013, more than 7.7 million Venezuelans have fled an oil-dependent economy now crippled by hyperinflation and...