A Venezuelan mother says her family’s sense of safety in the United States has changed dramatically following recent immigration policy shifts under the Trump administration.
To ensure the safety of those mentioned in this story, the couple’s real names and those of their children are being withheld at their request.
María and her husband Juan arrived in the U.S. with their two young children on November 19, 2024 after crossing seven countries by foot in search of asylum. They initially entered the country illegally through El Paso, Texas, before making their way to Chicago. The family fled Venezuela after facing government persecution for speaking out against political leaders.
At the time of their arrival, they felt hopeful under what they described as a more welcoming climate during the administration of former President Joe Biden. They chose to settle in Chicago, a sanctuary city, where they believed they’d find greater protection and support.
Sanctuary cities limit their cooperation with federal immigration enforcement officials, often declining to detain or turn over undocumented immigrants solely based on their immigration status. Under the Biden administration, many migrants viewed sanctuary cities like Chicago as safe havens where they could seek services and avoid immediate risk of deportation.
“We felt welcomed under Biden,” María said. “With this new administration, we live in fear.”
Since arriving in the United States, María and Juan’s family have had to move several times. After landing in Texas, they relocated to Florida. However, they found it difficult to settle in the state’s central city of Orlando due to a lack of resources and support, prompting them to continue their journey.
Eventually, they made their way to Chicago, where they’ve been able to stay for a longer period. Since then, they’ve rented a living space, which they now share with another family to afford the expensive rent, and enrolled their two children in school.
María explained that her family has significantly limited their activities outside the home. Outings to the movies or the park have stopped entirely, and even simple, essential errands like grocery shopping are accomplished under immense stress. Juan is the only one who goes out daily to work.
“It’s school, work and straight home,” she said.
María says her biggest concern is the safety of her children, who are now 7 and 8-years-old. While she continues to send them to school, she fears potential immigration enforcement activity near school grounds.
“I am really afraid of even taking them to school,” she said. “I have seen news about members of ICE coming to the schools and that worries us — that they would be waiting for us at school and take our children away.”
She says her children are increasingly anxious, especially her daughter, who becomes visibly upset at the sound of a police siren.
“My little girl is very nervous,” María said. “I tell her, ‘Calm down, calm down,’ because then it raises suspicion.”
The family’s financial situation has also become more precarious. Juan was recently laid off from his construction job and now looks for temporary labor daily. María, who stays home to care for the children, says she may need to join the workforce, but worries about the risks involved in seeking employment.
“Now I have to be more careful,” she said. “Because if the people hiring don’t like you, they could just make a call to make immigration officials come get you.”
Advocates say María and Juan’s situation is not unusual. Abel Núñez, executive director of the Central American Resource Center in Washington, D.C., says families in similar situations should be proactive.
“For families like María’s, it’s important to be prepared and not be afraid,” Núñez said. “The next four years will be extremely difficult. Families will be separated, families will be deported, and families will be exploited”
The future of Maria and Juan’s family remains uncertain as immigration policy continues to shift. María says her family’s only goal now is to remain in the U.S. legally, because returning to Venezuela is not an option.
“God brought us here,” she said. “And He will decide whether we stay or not. But I don’t want to go back.”
