Fleeing Crisis: The Plight of Venezuelans in the United States
A Sunday Hope for a Fading Future
Every Sunday, Johann Teran attends a Lutheran service in suburban Minneapolis, seeking solace and hope amidst the uncertainty that grips his life. Like many Venezuelans escaping the political and economic turmoil in their homeland, Teran and his family applied for various humanitarian protections in the United States, which the Trump administration has either curtailed or is expected to terminate soon. "It feels like they’re telling me to leave, that I’m not wanted here," Teran lamented. For him and many others, the church has become a refuge, a place to cling to hope when the future seems to be slipping away.
A Family Torn Apart by Policy Changes
Teran, a 27-year-old attorney, arrived in Minnesota eight months ago under a humanitarian parole program created by the Biden administration in 2022. This program granted two-year visas to 500,000 individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, provided they had a U.S. sponsor and passed background checks. However, Teran’s wife, Karelia, 29, was still in Venezuela when the program was ended by the Trump administration, leaving her without a legal pathway to join her husband. Teran’s mother-in-law, Marlenia Padron, 53, was granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in 2023, but this status is set to expire in April, along with that of hundreds of thousands of other Venezuelans. The termination of these protections has left many families in limbo, uncertain of their future.
A Life Rebuilt, Now in Jeopardy
Before the termination of TPS, Padron had rebuilt her life in the United States. She found work at a printing press, obtained a work permit, and finally felt safe after years of fleeing persecution and hardship in Venezuela. Padron recounted her harrowing experiences, including being kidnapped, detained on false charges, and living through a severe economic crisis. "In the U.S., I can work, pay my taxes, and even dream of buying a home," she said. However, with the end of TPS, her plans and sense of security have been shattered. She fears deportation back to a country where she believes her life would be in danger.
The Broader Regional Impact
The Venezuelan exodus, driven by political instability and economic collapse, has affected millions, with most fleeing to other Latin American countries. Padron’s journey was particularly perilous, involving a canoe crossing into Colombia and later traveling to the U.S.-Mexico border to seek asylum. Her story reflects the broader migration crisis, with approximately 8 million Venezuelans displaced in recent years. Legal experts like Karen Musalo, who directs the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, emphasize that the U.S. had acknowledged the crisis through programs like humanitarian parole and TPS. However, the termination of these programs under the Trump administration has left many without legal standing, pushing them into uncertainty and fear.
Community and Faith in Uncertain Times
For many in the Venezuelan community, the church has become a vital source of support. At Tapestry Church in Minnesota, where Teran volunteers helping others with immigration paperwork, congregants find strength in their shared struggles. Reverend Melissa Melnick Gonzalez underscores the importance of community in these challenging times: "We believe we are stronger together." Despite the efforts of churches and community organizations, the pervasive anxiety is palpable. Teran describes how fear has confined many Venezuelans to their homes, waiting in limbo, feeling criminalized despite their contributions to society.
A Dream Deferred
Johann Teran, who works as a paralegal and hopes to practice law in the U.S., feels his aspirations slipping away. His wife, Karelia, an orthodontist, remains stranded in Venezuela, where professionals like them struggle to make ends meet and face repression for speaking out. Teran expressed his frustration: "The U.S. allowed me in legally, but now I’m treated like an illegal immigrant." The couple’s video calls, filled with longing and uncertainty, highlight the human cost of policies that tear families apart. As Teran and his family await an uncertain future, they hold on to their faith and the hope that their contributions will one day be recognized, and their dream of a stable life in the U.S. will be realized.
