For thousands of Venezuelan immigrants, the festive spirit of Christmas was overshadowed by the harsh realities of displacement and economic hardship, a stark contrast to the American dream they once pursued. Mariela Gómez, like many others, found herself celebrating the holiday in her native Venezuela for the first time in eight years, a consequence of renewed immigration crackdowns.
Her Christmas dinner, a modest affair featuring a lasagna-like dish, lacked the traditional Venezuelan delicacy of hallacas, a dish rendered unaffordable due to widespread unemployment among returning migrants. Gómez, her partner, and her two sons were deported from Texas in October after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, initiating a perilous journey back to their homeland.
The family’s ordeal highlights the increasingly difficult path faced by Venezuelans fleeing their country’s protracted economic crisis. After being deported to Mexico, they navigated Central America by bus, enduring dangerous sea crossings on cargo boats and fast boats to reach Colombia, a journey fraught with financial strain and physical peril.
Once in Colombia, they spent two weeks before receiving financial assistance to make their way back to the Venezuelan border. This arduous return underscores the desperation driving millions of Venezuelans to seek better lives abroad, only to be met with intensified border controls and deportation policies.
Since Donald Trump’s return to the White House and the subsequent tightening of U.S. immigration policies, over 14,000 migrants, predominantly from Venezuela, have been returned to South America as of September. This surge in deportations is partly due to a shift in Venezuelan policy, which now accepts deportees from the U.S. after a period of refusal.
Gómez’s return also offered a bittersweet reunion with her 20-year-old daughter, whom she left behind during her initial flight from Venezuela’s complex crisis. The mother and daughter shared moments together, aware that their time was limited as her daughter prepares to migrate to Brazil next month, continuing the cycle of family separation.
Looking ahead, Gómez expressed a desire for employment and the ability to prepare traditional meals for New Year’s Eve. However, her primary aspirations for the coming year revolve around good health and the opportunity to remain with her family, a testament to the enduring human desire for stability and connection amidst profound uncertainty.
The experiences of Mariela Gómez and countless other Venezuelan families paint a grim picture of shattered hopes and precarious futures. Their stories serve as a powerful reminder of the human cost of shifting political landscapes and the enduring challenges faced by those seeking refuge and opportunity in a world increasingly defined by restrictive borders.
