It seems as though everywhere in the world right now is involved in its own civil war, or subsequently, seeing a surge in immigration into their country. Venezuela and Colombia included.
The recent surge of Venezuelans entering Colombia is alarming to me. We are already aware of the turmoil in Venezuela, but the truth is, you cannot fully understand something such as economic depression or political corruption until you are a part of it yourself. Let the growth of migration to Colombia – 47,095 people in one month – speak for itself.
More citizens do mean more tax money, so Colombia allowing simple citizenship was a good move. Although you must look into the future – and that’s years ahead. Does Colombia have the resources to sustain a growing population? What is Colombia’s food supply like? What kind of food can they grow? What is their quality of water/supply like? How many jobs does Colombia expect to create in the next five years? All these questions seemed unanswered and not even touched on. Is Colombia simply looking short-term at the extra tax dollars they will be receiving?
Venezuela is having a major food and economic crisis, which are two prominent factors leading to migration into Colombia. I feel as though Colombia may be setting itself up for the same fate. History repeats itself, and neighboring countries often fall under a domino effect. After all, one bad apple spoils the bunch.
Illegal immigration is also a parasite in the job market of a country. A country’s citizens, the ones paying taxes and social security, cannot do so because illegal immigrants are taking the jobs. Unfortunately, Colombia truthfully does not provide the amount of jobs it needs for self-sustainment, so the destruction of the country is impending.