Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants: Current Developments and Likely Futures

Following the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, and the forced removal of President Nicolás Maduro on 3 January 2026, questions have immediately been raised regarding the future of Venezuelan refugees and migrants, millions of whom currently reside outside the country, in neighbouring Latin American States, and in the United States.

Co-sponsored by the co-chairs of the ASIL interest groups on migration law, refugee law, and Latin America, and bringing together leading experts on these subjects, this virtual event will analyse current developments in the region, and explore the implications of the military intervention for the future of Venezuelan refugees and migrants.

Panelists:

• Ramon Dønvold Barreto-Pirela, PhD Candidate, University of Oslo
• Ernesto Castañeda, Director, Immigration Lab and Center for Latin American and Latino Studies, Professor, American University
• María Teresa Garrido, Associate Professor, Department of International Law, University for Peace

Moderator:

• Jordi Amaral, Founder and author of the Americas Migration Brief; PhD candidate in Political Science, George Washington University