Photos: A Venezuelan family Christmas – from the US dream to poverty

Venezuelan Immigrants Return Home Amid Economic Challenges

A recent Christmas marked a significant departure from the holiday traditions of Venezuelan immigrants in the United States. With the return of President Donald Trump to the White House, many had hoped for a brighter future in the US. However, the harsh reality of unemployment and poverty has led to a devastating return to their home country.

Mariela Gomez, who had spent eight years in the US with her family, found herself spending Christmas in northern Venezuela for the first time in years. Despite efforts to maintain a sense of normalcy, she acknowledged the difficulties faced by returning migrants. “We had a modest dinner, not quite what we’d hoped for, but at least we had food on the table,” Gomez said.

Gomez’s family, including her partner and two sons, had been deported from the US-Mexico border to Mexico before embarking on a perilous journey back to Venezuela. They crossed Central America by bus and then traveled along the Pacific coast in a cargo boat, eventually reaching Colombia. The family spent about two weeks in a jungled area of Colombia before receiving wired money to continue their journey.

According to figures from Colombia, Panama, and Costa Rica, more than 14,000 migrants, mostly from Venezuela, have returned to South America since Trump’s administration implemented measures to limit migration to the US. Additionally, Venezuelans were deported back to their home country this year after President Nicolas Maduro relaxed his policy of not accepting deportees from the US.

Gomez is among the over 7.7 million Venezuelans who left their home country in the last decade due to economic instability and other factors. She had lived in Colombia and Peru before setting her sights on the US, hoping to build a new life. However, with Trump’s second term, many like Gomez have seen their hopes dashed.

As Gomez looks forward to the New Year, she is hoping for good health and a job. Her prayers are also focused on enjoying time with her family, including her 20-year-old daughter who will be migrating to Brazil next month.

Source: Al Jazeera