Venezuelan Migrants Return Home for a Sober Christmas After Trump Policy Changes

This Christmas was not the one Mariela Gómez envisioned a year ago, nor the one imagined by thousands of other Venezuelan immigrants. But with the return of Donald Trump to the White House in January came a swift end to their American dreams.

A Difficult Return Home

Gómez found herself spending the holidays in northern Venezuela for the first time in eight years. She prepared as best she could, buying her son a scooter and smiling for her in-laws. Despite her efforts, she couldn’t ignore the significant challenges facing returning migrants: unemployment and poverty.

“We had a humble dinner, not the one we wished for, but at least a plate on the table,” Gómez said, describing a lasagna-like dish shared with her partner and in-laws instead of the traditional hallacas – cornmeal pockets filled with savory ingredients.

The cost of ingredients made preparing hallacas impossible. “The thing is, it’s a bit expensive to make hallacas here, and since we’re unemployed, we couldn’t make them,” she added.

A Perilous Journey Back

Gómez, her two children, and her partner returned to the city of Maracay on October 27th after crossing the border from Mexico into Texas, where they were quickly detained by the U.S. Border Patrol amidst increased immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. They were deported to Mexico and began the dangerous journey back to Venezuela.

They traveled by bus through Central America, but in Panama, they could not afford to continue to Colombia by boat. Instead, they took a cheaper route along the Pacific Ocean, riding on gasoline tanks aboard a cargo ship for hours before transferring to a smaller boat to reach a remote area of Colombia. They waited approximately two weeks for money to be sent to them to reach the Venezuelan border.

Changing Policies, Rising Returns

Gómez’s experience is not unique. By September, more than 14,000 migrants, primarily from Venezuela, had returned to South America since the implementation of stricter U.S. immigration policies. Venezuelans have been consistently deported to their country of origin this year after President Nicolás Maduro, under pressure from the White House, ended his long-standing policy of refusing to accept deportees from the United States.

Immigrants regularly arrived at the airport outside of Caracas on flights operated by a U.S. government contractor or Venezuela’s state airline, with over 13,000 returned via charter flights this year.

A Bittersweet Reunion

Gómez’s return to Venezuela also allowed her to see her 20-year-old daughter, whom she left behind when she initially fled the country’s crisis. They shared time and a beer during the holidays, knowing it might be their last together for a while – Gómez’s daughter is migrating to Brazil next month.

Gómez hopes to make hallacas for New Year’s Eve and find employment. But her prayers for the coming year are primarily for good health. “I ask my God for many things, first of all, life and health, to continue enjoying our family,” she expressed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What prompted Mariela Gómez’s return to Venezuela?

Mariela Gómez, along with her family, was deported from the United States to Mexico after being detained by the U.S. Border Patrol, and subsequently made the difficult journey back to Venezuela.

How many Venezuelan migrants have returned to South America recently?

More than 14,000 migrants, mostly from Venezuela, had returned to South America as of September, following decisions to limit migration.

What challenges are returning migrants facing in Venezuela?

Returning migrants are facing significant challenges, including unemployment and poverty, as highlighted by Gómez’s difficulty affording traditional holiday meals.

As policies continue to shift and economic conditions remain challenging, what will become of the hopes and dreams of Venezuelan migrants seeking a better life?