Venezuelans fret over new U.S. border plan, saying 'we can't go back'

Migrants from Venezuela who got expelled from the U.S. and sent back to Mexico under Title 42, stand near the Paso del Norte International border bridge, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico October 12, 2022. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (Reuters) - Venezuelan migrants stranded on the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday worried they might never reach the United States after a bilateral deal this week sought to put a lid on a recent sharp increase in crossings by the South Americans.

Under the plan announced Wednesday, Washington will grant up to 24,000 Venezuelans humanitarian access to the United States by air, while enabling U.S. officials to expel to Mexico those caught trying to cross illegally by land.