Venezuelan migrants make long trek back home

Hundreds of Venezuelan migrants anxious to return to ir homeland remain stuck at border with Colombia waiting to get in.

Migration authorities say 300 Venezuelans were allowed back on Friday – but ar 600 remain stuck in Colombia until at least Monday.

A long line of men, women and children packed closely toger – many t wearing face masks – formed this week in border city of Cúcuta .

Colombia migration officials say Venezuelan authorities are only allowing 300 compatriots to return at a time three days a week, creating a bottleneck situation. An estimated 15,000 Venezuelans in Colombia are trying to return.

Many are taking long journeys by foot and bus to reach border.

An estimated 1.8 million Venezuelans live in Colombia and about 75,000 have returned since start of COVID-19 pandemic. In total, at least 4.5 million Venezuelans have fled ir country's political and ecomic turmoil in recent years.

Bryan Hernandez was among those who didn't get one of 300 entry spots Friday.

"This is reality Venezuelans live," he said. "You can't even return to your country."