This chapter analyzes the sociopolitical impacts of the mass arrival of Venezuelan migrants in South America, focusing on public opinion and political reactions across six main receiving countries. Drawing on Latinobarómetro data and other sources, Cerrutti shows that anti-immigrant sentiment – often tied to fears over crime, labor competition, and strained public services – has grown significantly, especially in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Chile. These attitudes are shaped by both structural conditions (such as the speed and scale of migration, irregular status, and weak state capacities) and individual-level factors like education, age, and economic dissatisfaction. The media, particularly in countries with high levels of xenophobia, has played a crucial role in amplifying negative stereotypes. Politically, right-wing governments initially welcomed migrants as a way to denounce the Maduro regime but later recalibrated their rhetoric in response to rising public resentment. The chapter warns that xenophobic rhetoric may increasingly be instrumentalized during moments of social unrest, fueling democratic discontent and scapegoating migrants as symbols of broader frustrations.