Trinidad and Tobago

Advocacy for Trinidad and Tobago

What’s Happening?

Trinidad and Tobago hosts tens of thousands of Venezuelans who have fled political and economic crises at home. Venezuelans on the island are not protected by any domestic refugee legislation and are subject to criminal penalties as a result. This means that Venezuelans live under the constant threat of detention and deportation without the ability to work legally or access education.

What Must Be Done?

Refugees International has pressed for better refugee policies on the twin-island nation. Refugees International’s advocacy, in coalition with others, ultimately led the government of Trinidad and Tobago to create a new policy that allowed more than 16,500 Venezuelans to temporarily regularize their status and access legal employment.