I am always on the lookout for obscure stories that normal media outlets miss. I encountered a poignant story about a family from Venezuela who made it all the way to Chicago. They then gave up and decided to return to Venezuela.
Before I go further, let me take you back to the late 1980s. I had a job
that allowed me to spend time in Mexico, Central, America, and sometimes South
America. I often lived in a small Guatemala town called Panajachel. It sat
right on a charming lake and was full of U.S. expatriates. I made a great and
unusual friend. His name was Clyde Tewes. In a prior life, he had spent 30
years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He had risen to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant.
Clyde was a former U.S. Marine Corps Force Reon. He was
a special operations soldier in the most elite unit. Clyde served two
tours in Vietnam.
Over the years I have had several good friends who were
ex-special operations soldiers including Clyde, British Special Air Services
people, Australian Special Air Services people, Rhodesian Selous Scouts
veterans, U.S. Navy SEALS, and US Army Green Berets. Have no illusions
about these men. In battle, they knew 100 ways to kill you instantly and
unceremoniously. However, if you met any of these men in a social setting, you
would find them as most courteous and even charming.
Clyde was that sort of man. He became my hiking friend as we explored
Central America and parts of South America on foot. When we got to Panama,
Clyde declined to cross the Darien Gap on the other side of
the Panama Canal to reach Colombia. He considered it too dangerous. He would
get on the ferry to Colombia. Please hold that thought.
Many migrants from Venezuela cross the hell hole known as the
Darien Gap. Often, they cross it barefooted or in sandals. Then they
continue to walk the full length of Central America and Mexico. Near the U.S.
border, they often pay a Coyote (a professional smuggler
affiliated with drug cartels) up to $5,000 US to smuggle them across the
border. Have no illusions here. This border crossing can be deadly. People die
on the crossing.
Once they pass this gauntlet, they make their way to various places in
the U.S. Some are fortunate and have relatives in US cities or towns to help
them. Those without families find life more challenging. Many Venezuelan
families in Chicago are giving up and deciding to go back to Venezuela. For
those interested, here is a fascinating article:
If
I had arrived under those circumstances, I would have refused to give up. I
would have taken temporary labor jobs. I would have found donated clothes to
protect me and my family from the cold. I would have gone to food banks. I
would have found shelter. (Churches often offer shelter to people without
housing. I know this from personal experience.)
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