The Border Mobility Card (TMF) or border card is no longer available on the digital platform of Migración Colombia https://www.migracioncolombia.gov.co, a situation that, in addition to creating obstacles for Venezuelans to access Colombian territory, reactivates the use of trails and, therefore, promotes payment to irregular elements, who stationed along the Táchira River, take control of the entry and exit of the citizens.
Despite the fact that in the past the obtaining of the TMF did not exceed 20 minutes, today the access provided to carry out the procedure is cancelled, which means that a significant number of citizens who never obtained the card and others who after two years , with the closure of the passage through the international bridges, Simón Bolívar in Venezuela and Francisco de Paula Santander in Colombia, discarded the instrument, they find themselves in the need to look for alternate routes to go to the Colombian Republic, which translates in adding to its regular budget the payment for mobility that ranges between 5000 (Bs.6,8) and 10000 COP (Bs.13,6).
Since January 14, the Colombian authorities located at the Colombian migration control points have warned those who wish to enter to present the Border Mobility Card, otherwise they will not have access, in addition to urging them to desist and withdraw from the bridge, the complaint of those who enter Colombia to work or to buy medicine and food lies in the mistreatment of officials who, without “any type of tact”, try to evict them from the checkpoint.
Carlos Rodríguez, councilor of the Bolívar municipality of the state of Táchira, for the Copei Social Christian political movement, argues that the TMF, which is not currently being issued by Colombian migration, had as its purpose the mobility of Venezuelan citizens only in the Norte de Santander department. , a document, which in his opinion was restricted to move to other locations in the Colombian Republic.
Rodríguez clarifies that, although this document is not being issued, those Venezuelans who travel to other latitudes of Colombia, only presenting their identity card and of course, the tickets that support the destinations to visit, will be sent to Migration Colombia where they process them. the immigration permit, which stipulates that they have a period of 72 hours to move from the border to the destinations set in other departments of the country.
He argues that he does not believe that this measure taken is a retaliation against the citizens. "Each country has its parameters (...) rather I think that with that support, where Venezuelans can travel throughout the Colombian territory with an expired passport (with a duration of 10 years) another country does not grant it."
The councilman reiterated that the different documents that have been issued from Colombia, although they improve the conditions of Venezuelan migrants, it is no less true that the ideal would be the opening of the border in all its areas in order to promote transformations in an economic and social way. that benefit the communities and merchants of the Colombian-Venezuelan border.
opening of the borders
The councilor for the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, Freddy Leal, argues that the solution is to open the border and regain control of trade to avoid so many negative actions that are recorded in the Bolívar municipality of Táchira state.
In his opinion, the temporary closure of access to the TMF is intended to "place obstacles"
"I see that every action the Colombian government takes is intended to create obstacles. It's a very vested interest to maintain harmful access controls for those who must pass through Colombian territory every day, whether to work or to buy supplies, food, and medicine.
Is it a retaliation of Colombia towards Venezuela?
This situation of the Border Mobility Card (TMF) is part of a negative maneuver against the inhabitants of the border. At this point, asking for the border card from Venezuelans who pay all the demands of the Colombian government, who travel throughout Colombia, who are part of the labor force that works, is not fair. On the one hand, they remove access to TMF and on the other hand they open the Temporary Protection Permit (PPT) to protect the Venezuelan and in the future generate new obstacles.
Will the mobilization along the trails intensify again?
To begin with, I clarify that I do not agree with trails. But, yes, indeed the passage through the trails will continue if Colombia continues to request these permits. What must be understood is that the use of the trails generates a danger around the covid-19 control measures in addition to attacking the sovereignty of the two nations.
In Councilman Leal's opinion, it is necessary to open the border. There needs to be a trade agreement. The complaints of Venezuelans who are extorted when they cross the bridge and those who use the trails continue. An agreement must be reached so that the countries regularize and supervise what is marketed in each country. Economic sovereignty must be recovered and the people protected.
In disagreement
Carmen Villalobos is a Venezuelan who works in a restaurant in Cúcuta, when the demand for the Border Mobility Card began, or as it is called in the area, border card, she went to one of the managers who were located along Venezuela Avenue in San Antonio del Táchira, there, with help, he opened an email that he did not have and from that moment, paying a minimum amount of money for the date, the document was delivered to him.
Villalobos, like a countless number of inhabitants who arrived in the Bolívar municipality, were attended by the managers, they were never given the user name and the email password, much less explained where they got the water or electricity bills that were required of them. “The only thing they asked was if I was registered with the National Electoral Council (CNE) (…) I said yes, that I would vote and they answered calmly, madam, you will have your card, just pass me the ID.”
Now, after so much time they demand his ID that he evidently forgot somewhere in his house or outside of it, hence he has made the decision to continue using the trail as a way to get to Colombia, he affirms that he will not be able to access it again to the document is an action that threatens the people who spend every day looking for sustenance.
“It is the mistreatment of the members of Colombia migration and others who are at the control point on the bridge that is the most terrible, they tell you that if you do not have the card, forget to pass (…) as if they did not know (…) if one does not go above, below there are many more paths to get there”, he sentenced.
