The U.S. creates a legal pathway for Venezuelan migrants, but many won't qualify

Milagros Pineda and Víctor Villegas outside their temporary housing in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (José A. Alvarado Jr. for NPR)

NEW YORK — When Víctor Villegas and Milagros Pineda arrived in New York in early August, they tried to go to a homeless shelter for couples.

But they were turned away, because they're not legally married. In order to stay together at the shelter, the couple needed some paperwork. On top of that, it was Sunday — and they couldn't get the paperwork they needed until Monday.