Colombians are increasingly concerned about escalating tensions as the government has militarized its border with Venezuela.
In the border city of Cucuta, residents are anxious and hesitant to leave their homes following the government's decision to deploy 30,000 soldiers, in response to the January-3 U.S. strikes on Venezuela that led to the forcible seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
Since then, there has been an increase in the number of immigrants departing from Venezuela amid the prevailing uncertainty in the region.
"I am a Colombian, but I live in San Cristobal (Venezuela). I'm taken aback by what has happened there, [for] what everyone already knows from the news. The situation is worrying -- whatever unfolds is worrying. I pray a lot, asking my God to take control of everything and hoping strongly that there won't be many deaths, because it's serious. Right now, honestly, people are afraid to go out. We are waiting to see what is going to happen in our neighboring country, Venezuela. So people take shelter and stock up on food, because we don't know when things will change or what lies ahead. Even if one thinks they know what might happen, people still prefer to stay sheltered in their homes," said Ana Maria Gomez, a Colombian citizen.
"I'm in shock, honestly. We can't believe it, but may it all be God's will and may Venezuela change for the better. I haven't lost hope that my country will return to the wonderful place it once was, when everyone immigrated to our country. I know it will be possible -- Venezuela will shine again like before," said Patricia López, a Venezuelan migrant.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro warned of a possible "massive influx" of refugees fleeing the violence, prompting soldiers backed by armored vehicles to reinforce the border crossing at Cucuta.
Colombians worry about escalating tensions as government militarizes border with Venezuela
The number of temporary accommodation registrations of foreign nationals in Shanghai hit a record high of 7.139 million in 2025, up 49.6 percent from the previous year, the Exit-Entry Administration Corps of the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau said at a press briefing on Thursday.
The figure, which had already doubled in 2024, points to a continued rise in the number of foreign nationals visiting and staying in the city, highlighting the metropolis's growing appeal to international visitors.
Shanghai also issued more than 200,000 visas and residence permits to foreigners for the second consecutive year in 2025.
Long-term permits, including residence permits, accounted for a share 10 percentage points higher than the previous year, reflecting growing demand for extended stays.
Officials said the increase mirrors Shanghai's expanding openness and improving services for foreign visitors and residents.
"In 2025, Shanghai processed 7.139 million temporary accommodation registrations for foreigners. Following a doubling from the year before last, the figure rose by another 49.6 percent year on year, marking a historical high in the number of foreign nationals coming to Shanghai," said Song Weiqi, deputy head of the administration corps.
Accommodation registrations are required for foreigners staying in China. In 2025, 94.7 percent of temporary accommodation registrations were handled directly by hotels, resulting in a convenient check-in process.
Among foreigners residing in Shanghai's residential communities, 84.8 percent opted for online self-reporting via a multilingual platform that offers efficient, flexible registration.
Meanwhile, to ease the surge in passport applications for foreign travel ahead of the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday in mid-February, the administration corps announced plans to extend service hours for residents.
Shanghai hits a record-high 7.14 million expat accommodation registrations in 2025
