The Real “Sebastian”
For those who read my post from July 11, 2019, you will remember that while I was at the Mexican-American border, handing out socks to those families in several shelters, I met a boy at a Migrant Shelter right inside the Mexican border. In the post I called him “Sebastian,” to protect his identity while he and his family worked on getting asylum in America. Now, after more than a year, I am proud to finally introduce Alessandro Cavedoni-Villegas. His story is incredible and his spirit is contagious. But his story does not begin where I first met him, it begins many years earlier in Venezuela.
The Villegas family is well aware of the importance of politics. Both the parents, Doris and Roberth, are politicians who spent their lives protecting and defending their country against men like Hugo Chavez and Nicolás Maduro who ruled the country with an iron fist. The Villegas’ parents fought oppression and communism. Their children also fought, but their political weapons were the musical instruments they trained for years to perfect. For Alessandro, it was a violin. Alessandro began playing the violin at 4 years old; he and his sister are considered prodigies. The two of them often attended rallies with their parents to play their instruments. The music livened up the crowd of thousands in the spirit of rebellion against dictatorships. But this too came at a price. “If you oppose Maduro and his Chavista regime (as most people in Venezuela do) you are prone to be prosecuted by criminal groups armed by the dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro,” said Alessandro. “These groups were created specifically to infuse terror in the population. But beyond just infusing terror, those Armed Groups (often referred as Colectivos, or Collectives in English), their primary function is to kill all potential threats to the Bolivarian Revolution (the insurgent movement started by Chavez in 1999).”
As the years mounted, tensions in Venezuela came to a breaking point. The Villegas children traded out their instruments for their voices and used the political rhetoric inherited from their parents to speak out against the tyranny. Once, at a very large rally, Alessandro stood up as a young teenager and spoke to the crowd of thousands for approximately five minutes. He even quoted Simon Bolivar, liberator of Venezuela, with the words, “when tyranny is the law, rebellion is a right”. This speech, in all of its courageous glory, tipped the scales for the enemy and brought danger to the Villegas’ doorstep. Soon after the speech was made, a group of extremists from Maduro’s side threatened to kill the kids by chopping them up into pieces, placing the pieces into bags, and sending the bags to their family.
Alessandro’s mother knew this was real. She had had her own brush with death years before, in an attack on her life from people very similar to those now threatening her children. Despite the children’s growing passion, she urged the family to flee Venezuela. So, after 16 years of bravely fighting against the system that ruled their beloved country, the Cavedoni family fled their home. It would take a lot of work and luck to get to a better home in a safer place. They could die on the way out of Venezuela, they could die on the way to the border, or even at the border. But they had to take the risk. And they did. On May 24th, 2019, they left the dangerous country they called home, and set out in search of American soil (The United Nations estimates that since the end of 2015 between four to six million Venezuelans have fled their country because of economic collapse, malnutrition, starvation, and lack of medicines).
The family traveled to the Mexican-American border, where they were able to find a migrant’s shelter. A lot of families come and try to get in but are denied. Alessandro’s family was lucky to find a place for themselves, as men, women, and children were forced to sleep outside the shelter. Some get swindled by men offering help that only turns out to be a con. They are called “Coyotes” and they are very dangerous. I can not exaggerate how dangerous it is to be stuck at the border, inside the walls of Mexico, for anyone seeking asylum in the United States. The changes in processes of seeking asylum (that had just gone into effect when the Villegas family made it to the Mexico/United States border), made it impossible for families to wait inside the border of the United States, hence why they were forced to find shelter inside Mexico.
On another offtopic note, the wall that is being constructed along the Texas border is hindering the animals who roam the terrain there. Magazines like National Geographic have highlighted the detriment the wall has on the wildlife. The wall divides their world in half, cutting off necessary supplies and even animal families, between cubs and their mamas, etc etc. This is a sad reality, especially being the fact that a quarter of our world’s mammals are currently threatened with extinction. I seem to think we could manage the illegal crossings better with drone and infrared technology than antiquated ways like a wall that harm animals, nature, and ecosystems. As far as homo-sapiens goes, those families seeking legal asylum that are now forced to stay inside Mexico at the border are defenseless against the armed guards and dangerous locals around the area. Some members of families can be kidnapped, or even killed by these men. Everytime Alessandro had to leave the shelter to buy something for his family, he was threatened. When reflecting back on that time, Alessandro had this to say: “It was not an easy trip for me and my family. In fact, it was tortuous.”
For several weeks, Alessandro spent hours inside the shelter, contacting immigration attorneys, something he could never have done in Venezuela safely. It fell on him because he was the only family member who had learned English, from listening to songs by Katy Perry of all things. As previously stated, he could never have looked for attorneys in Venezuela safely, but even at the border it was difficult, as the migrants inside the shelter had restricted use of their phones. The rule was implemented for their safety. The phones were only given back to them for a certain amount of time per day. Alessandro spent every minute he could pleading for someone to take his case, sending emails to all the contacts he could find through the google web pages as well as calling countless law firms. Weeks went by without a word. It crushed Alessandro. The shelter was filling up and he was running out of options. It was about this time that I came to the border with my Aunt Nancy. We were there as an outreach through my charity delivering socks to immigrants in need. We visited ICE detention centers, respite centers (places where migrants go after being released from ICE custody), and a spur of the moment decision had my aunt and I cross into Mexico and visit the new makeshift migrant shelters there and bring them socks as well. It was then that Alessandro and I finally crossed paths. I might add (and this is in my initial blog post about this trip as well) a senior editor for the NY Times and his crew tried to enter the same migrant shelter right after my aunt and I pulled up in our car. We heard that he get denied access, due to safety concerns. My aunt and I somehow looked innocent enough with our socks in our arms and we were allowed to enter.
When I met Alessandro and he told me his story, I was amazed. Here was this 16 year old kid and he was doing everything that most adults would never have the courage to do. He was not afraid; he was wise enough to flee with his family when danger came to them. He knew he loved his family more than his country, and he could do more from the outside. But it was tough for them. Before the Trump administration, seeking asylum in the United States was a bit easier. It was supposed to be a right guaranteed by the American government to those who needed a safe place, but when Trump came to power, he made it much more difficult for families to get help.
For decades, the border has been fraught with danger and violence. One proposition to help deter families from crossing the border was to immediately arrest and detain any immigrants illegally found on American soil. The issue lies with the reality that most illegal immigrants are parents trying to cross with their children and for the sake of their children. If they are arrested, then the children are taken away from their parents and put into a separate migrant shelter. This creates a cruel and inhumane detainment of innocent minors. This idea, morals aside, would help the border crisis, but it went untouched by George W. Bush (Republican) and Barack Obama (Democrat) given the severity. According to a 2018 article by The New York Times, “the idea of crying children torn from their parents’ arms was simply too inhumane—and too politically perilous [for the two former Presidents].” It was not that way for Donald J. Trump.
I had heard about the danger at the border, and I was familiar with the sad reality of what Trump was trying to do. But I had not realized the gravity of the situation until I saw it with my own eyes. Reflecting back now, I can tell you the simple truth is that what is still going on there can only be referred to as selfish. In America, and other free countries, people want mercy for themselves when something bad happens, but when desperate families in search of a better life try to work for it, we demand justice and do not view mercy as an option. The Trump administration remarked that justice must be done about the immigration laws, but maybe by showing kindness and mercy to those in need, we could bring about a positive change. I did not think this way so deeply until I came to the border myself. Seeing firsthand the armed guards and families in need, I was stunned. As I listened to Alessandro, it hit me like a gut punch that I had to do something for him and his family. If anybody deserved a better life, it was those who fought for theirs at all costs.
I decided to try what I could from my end. After coming back to Atlanta, I began asking around and found a man named Charles Kuck, an immigration attorney based in Atlanta. He has been adjunct professor of law at Emory University and the University of Georgia, as well as the former National President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Charles put me in touch with Juan Ángel Gómez, an immigration attorney on the border. I urged Juan to take the case, but he had to regretfully decline my request, as traveling down to the border as an immigration attorney is a very dangerous task. Formerly before the recent changes, Juan would be taking cases within the United States borders. The people he was defending were staying in the United States. Between the border patrol, who can be corrupt, and the Coyotes who are known to kill, it was a gamble every time an attorney would cross over. It could mean death to those trying to defend the immigrants themselves. Juan didn’t know of any attorneys currently taking cases for folks stuck inside the walls of Mexico seeking asylum in the United States. It was all a new concept. I pleaded with Juan to attempt to find an attorney to take Alessandro’s case, and he agreed.
It took some time, and several discussions between Charles, Juan and myself. Eventually, after what felt like forever, Juan connected us to Bertha A. Zuniga and Charles knew of her and gave his blessing. She is a former immigration judge. I felt confident that this would look very good for the Villegas family to have her represent them. But like Juan, it would mean risking her life, especially so for a professional woman at the border. But she nonetheless took a chance on a family she later said has a “bright future.” And finally, there was light at the end of this tunnel.
At this point, it had been over a month since I met Alessandro, and he and his family had left the migrant shelter and had begun renting an apartment in Monterrey, Mexico, which is two hours south of the border. They had decided to stay there while they searched for ways to get asylum in the U.S. It was much safer in Monterrey, away from the dangers and chaos of the border. As mentioned, in the migrant shelter, there are risks and very little room to yourself, making it difficult to search for an attorney. The move to Monterrey made it better for Alessandro to focus on finding help for his family.
Bertha worked very hard on the family’s case, and she updated me every step of the way. She needed to get an expert witness affidavit for the asylum case. It was fifteen pages long and very well done. By September of that year, the family had a court case set. Bertha traveled to Mexico and worked with them to help make their case. In court, on the day of their trial, Alessandro’s mother stood up and defended her family’s right to freedom. Doris, Alessandro’s mother, testified that Maduro’s fall was not to be, her family was in imminent danger, and after 16 years of courageously opposing repression, the family had to flee. The Immigration Judge found that asylum should be granted to the family on account of their Pro-Democracy and Anti-Socialist political opinion. The pro-government colectivos knew of the family’s political activities and they were sure to be killed if deported. There is no safe place for them in Venezuela. Bertha sent me a note after the judge’s decision that said “This is our country! JUSTICE was done and asylum was granted to a family that met all the requirements of the law.”
After the trial was over, the family was sequestered in ICE custody and not immediately released because the government did not accept the judge’s decision and they had to wait and see if the government appealed. Bertha was worried about Doris because the medics had to come into the courtroom during break to help her because she was about to faint. The family had been up all night anxious about their 8:30am court case. They had no access to their cellphones, so no one could communicate with them while we all waited. Bertha kept me posted and told me that it could be one hour or ten days before we found out if the government would appeal. “It’s all going to end well…you’ll see,” Bertha said to me. She had faith. It ended up taking just over an hour of waiting, and before they knew it, the family was released into Laredo, Texas, never to see Monterrey or the border again. They then moved from Laredo to Houston, Texas. From there they began a new life. “We were very excited,” said Alessandro. “We could not believe we were already in America. We cried, called our friends, family, and our attorney. We were finally safe. We were finally free.” It just so happened that they moved into their first American apartment in Houston on November 28th, Thanksgiving Day, the same day Alessandro turned 17.
The family’s life now is bittersweet. The sweetness comes in the prosperity that America offers. They feel safe. They feel pride to call the United States home. They are almost eligible to apply for a green card and eventually, many years after that, they will be able to apply for official citizenship. They have just reached the point where they can qualify to buy a house. And although the Cavedoni parents no longer have their stimulating careers that they once had, they still work just as hard as a housekeeper and construction worker in the United States as they improve upon their English to obtain better positions. The bitterness, however, comes in the removal of their country from their day-to-day lives. Yes, they are much safer here. But they still feel strongly that Venezuela can become better as long as the right people are lifted higher in the government and corruption is minimized to clear the way for hope and freedom. But it is not over for their home country.
After the January 6th riots in the US Capitol, Alessandro had this to say: “Wow!! … This attack on the Capitol reminded me of the several coups that were led by Hugo Chavez in Venezuela in his attempts to take over Venezuelan Democracy!! And he did!!! His party beat congresspeople, tortured them. Currently, they keep on doing it. I am proud that both the Republican and the Democratic Party have joined together to say “stop” and have realized that the coup Congress experienced had nothing to do with politics and have joined together to put an end to it!! That is one of the reasons why I love America so much!! All Americans join together despite their differences to keep our country GREAT!! God Bless America!”
And thanks to Alessandro, that dream for the country’s future might just come true some day. He is currently still in high school, set to graduate in the Spring of 2021. His plans are vast and will cast a wide net. Where most high schoolers who graduate may ask, “what do I do now?” Alessandro asks, “how soon can I start?” He plans on majoring in Political Science at Texas A&M, then moving into law school. He would like to become a lawyer and then eventually move back to Venezuela and be the president. His dreams are high, but so is his drive and work ethic. What other kids have single-handedly negotiated for their family’s freedom in a language they taught themselves? What other kid can stand on stage at fifteen, in the face of certain death, and demand freedom for his people? Alessandro is a passionate young man, who’s spirit only grows brighter with time. He will never back down and I know, from just meeting him briefly, that this will bring him a great future.
It begs me to ask what I have done lately. “Have I done enough?” or, “Can I do more?” Those questions may never get an answer. But I do not need to ask whether it will matter. Alessandro’s bravery has shown me that it always will. Maybe it takes patience, maybe it takes prayer, and maybe it takes luck, but it will never happen without a strongly held belief in the impossible becoming, dare I say, possible. My Aunt Nancy and I reflect back on the day we met the Villegas family by happenstance and we are simply amazed by what feels like a God ordained encounter that was (and still is) surreal in so many ways,…but for good cause, we did meet them on a hot July day, our paths did cross, and we became captivated by their story. I appreciate all that Charles, Juan and Bertha did to help make this happen for this very deserving family. From here on out, I cannot wait to see what Alessandro does next. Can you?