By Alexandra Ulmer, Dave Graham (NYSE:) and Matt Spetalnick

SAN FRANCISCO/MEXICO CITY – Mexico could increase the entry requirements for Venezuelans after a spike in Venezuelans seeking asylum at Mexican borders, according to three persons familiar with the situation.

Venezuelans currently do not require a visa for tourist entry to Mexico. Mexico, however, is considering making Venezuelan immigrants’ entry to Mexico subject to some criteria as concerns mount about the U.S.-Mexico border.

According to the official, new entry regulations could soon be in place.

According to another Mexican source, Mexico is reviewing its options and has been in discussions with Venezuela about alternatives to visa requirements.

Unnamed third party familiar with Mexican-U.S. negotiations said Washington was urging Mexico not to impose visa restrictions for Venezuelans. He also noted that U.S. Customs and Border Protection has complained about an increase in Venezuelans.

The first source stated that options under consideration include making Venezuelans prove they can afford to travel to the United States and having a return ticket for their flight. This is to make sure they don’t use Mexico as a way to get into the United States.

When asked by Reuters if Washington was pressuring Mexico to make Venezuelans more difficult to enter, a U.S. State Department spokesperson stated that Washington was cooperating with Mexico in addressing root causes for irregular migration.

According to the spokesperson, “The United States values Mexico’s contributions that help ensure safe and orderly conditions for migrants within its borders.”

CBP, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and White House did not respond immediately to requests for comment. A request for comment was ignored by neither the Venezuelan Information Ministry nor Mexico’s foreign ministry.

According to U.S. government statistics, the number of encounters between Venezuelans and Americans at Mexico’s border has risen to 47,762 from 1,262 over the 12-month prior.

Following a dramatic increase in Ecuadorians trying to cross into the United States, Mexico banned visa exemptions from Mexico for six months.

This year, the U.S. and Mexico border has seen record-breaking levels of migrants being apprehended. This has placed pressure on U.S. President Joe Biden in advance of the November congressional elections. Many voters from Texas border towns are upset, and Republicans accuse him of following an “open-border” policy.

According to one Mexican source, Washington had lobbyed Mexico for Venezuelan arrivals to be slowed down. However Mexico wanted to ensure that people are not entering the country under false pretenses.

According to a fourth source in the U.S. government, efforts to lobby Mexico for tighter entry requirements from OPEC member Venezuela have increased after Venezuelan arrivals jumped in this summer. Diplomats and DHS had made informal requests to cooperate. Sources said Washington did not have a hard line on Mexico.

The tighter entry requirements could adversely affect the migration plans of many Venezuelans. Many pay smuggling network fees to get out of economic ruin under President Nicolas Maduro. Maduro has led a financial crisis that was accompanied by heavy U.S. sanction. Most Venezuelans leave without much money.

Venezuelans from Latin America such as Colombia, Chile or Peru, which often work in hard currency for years before they travel north, are likely to be less vulnerable to the requirements that revolve around their solvency.

According to a U.S. source, Biden’s staff could discuss Venezuela’s migration issue with Mexican President Andres Lopez Obrador’s delegation next week in Washington for the U.S.-Mexico Canada summit.

Reuters reported that in October, the Biden administration wanted Mexico’s visa requirements to Brazil to make it more difficult for them to cross the border to the United States.