Amid Disputed Election, Optimism in Austin’s Venezuelan Community Fades

Austin’s Venezuelan Immigrants in a Waiting Game

For hundreds of Venezuelans residing in Austin, Texas, Monday was an anxious waiting game. Yeneree Torrealba, a Venezuelan migrant working as a house cleaner, exemplified the tension and curiosity gripping the community. Despite her busy schedule, she repeatedly checked online platforms for news and updates about the ongoing political developments back home.

The Questionable Victory of President Nicolás Maduro

Perhaps the most notable news that caused a stir amongst the Venezuelan community in Austin was President Nicolás Maduro’s questionable victory in the recent presidential election. Despite the opposition’s claim to the win and the international scepticism questioning the legitimacy of the vote, Maduro seems set for another term, his third consecutive six-year stint.

An Ebullient Rally Sours With Disappointment

Before the disturbing news of Maduro’s victory, the previous day saw an ebullient gathering of over 200 Venezuelans in a strip mall parking lot in Cedar Park. The rally was organized by pro-opposition activists with high hopes of seeing Maduro’s defeat.

The Venezuelan community, albeit devoid of voting rights in the US, showed up in large numbers to support the opposition. They expressed their anticipation and fervor through multiple means, using the opposition’s slogan “fe” or “faith,” adorning their pet and children with Venezuelan flags and marking their cars with messages of liberation. However, their exhilaration was short-lived as news of Maduro’s apparent victory dampened the festive atmosphere.

From Hope to Disillusionment

“We were all hoping for the best,” Torrealba shared, acknowledging the possibility of electoral fraud with Maduro maintaining power. This sentiment of disillusionment resonated with many Venezuelan immigrants who had believed international and domestic pressure would lead to a fair and free election and tip the scales in favor of the opposition candidate, Edmundo González.

Jesús Capote, another Venezuelan immigrant living in Austin, echoed the sentiments, “We’re tired. The people are tired. Humanity’s tired,” he expressed. He vented his frustration at the current government for its misplaced priorities and the resulting economic hardship. Like many others, he held a hopeful belief that improved economic conditions in Venezuela could draw them back home.

Looking Forward with Uncertainty

On Monday, despite her nostalgia for home and the desire to reunite with her family, Torrealba expressed the somber realization prevalent in the community, sharing her plans to prioritize getting her daughters out of Venezuela. “I’m not going to take away opportunities from them. … I don’t know if they will see (a different Venezuela). Maybe their kids will,” she said, hinting at a long struggle ahead for her home country’s return to prosperity and democracy.