Hi, my name is Andrea Tovar.
In 2019, my family—Emilse, Cesar, and our beloved cat, Tom—made the difficult decision to leave Venezuela and seek a new life in the U.S. We were searching for safety, opportunities, and a place to call home. The political and economic crisis in Venezuela had made it impossible to stay; we were no longer safe. Because we refused to support Maduro’s regime, we faced persecution from paramilitary groups, putting our lives at risk on multiple occasions.
When we arrived in the U.S., we came with open hearts, ready to work hard, contribute, and build a future where we wouldn’t have to fear for our safety. We poured everything we had into creating a new home here. But now, six years later, we find ourselves in an unimaginable situation—forced to leave once again.
My mom and brother are beneficiaries of TPS (Temporary Protected Status), since they never received the opportunity to get an interview for their asylum process, but with recent policy changes revoking their ability to renew it, they will soon become undocumented. After years of working, contributing, and striving to be part of this country, we never expected to feel so vulnerable here.
Given the current political climate, we’ve made the heartbreaking decision to leave the U.S. Never in our wildest dreams did we think that the country we had begun to call home would ultimately push us out. And now, for the second time, we are packing our lives into suitcases, searching for a place where we can build a future without fear.
This unexpected turn of events has put us under immense financial strain. Moving isn’t just about flights—it’s renewing my mom’s and brother’s passports (which is already an odyssey, as they’ll have to risk their lives by returning to Venezuela since there’s no way to renew it at another consulate), handling paperwork for Tom, navigating legal processes in Spain, and facing countless unforeseen expenses. We are hardworking and determined, but we simply don’t have the financial cushion to make this move possible on our own.
That’s why we are reaching out, humbly asking for your kindness and support during this difficult time. Any contribution, no matter how small, will make a huge difference in helping us start over once again. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with us.
