Despite the previous COVID-19 pandemic restrictions implemented on the South American country, Chile has been the go-to destination spot for Venezuelans over the past couple of years. Thousands of protests have recently been flooding the country of Chile in regards to the recent and excessive migration of Venezuelans. This past week, over 4,000 locals gathered in the city of Iquique to support these specific protests, where they waved their signature Chilean flag and continuously spoke against the people of Venezuela who come into their country uninvited.
“They yell at us, ‘Go back to your country. What are you doing here?’ They yell a lot of ugly things at us,” Jaqueline Rojas stated a local Venezuelan who now resides in the Iquique area. “It makes us sad, because the truth is that we are not all the same. There are some people who come to do bad things and others who come to look for work. I am going south to look for work, with my daughter and my brother,” she added. A reported 400 to 500 refugees have been crossing over to Chile from Venezuela every day since the commencement of November 2021, most come with the intention of surviving by any means necessary.
Former Venezuela local Wendy Gonzalez publicly stated how “this is better than being in Venezuela.” She continued with, “In Venezuela, you have your home and everything you want, but you do not have the means to feed your children, dress them, or give them a good education.” Venezuela is currently decreasing in money, food, medicine, human rights, economics, employment, and so much more as they continue to force their people out of the country just to keep themselves alive. Venezuelan migrants have seemed to have tried everything to make it clear that they come in peace and simply want what is best for themselves and their families, however, the few who take advantage of Chile’s openness continue to ruin the lives of all.