Paola Ramos

Many of them were Venezuelans escaping the Nicolás Maduro regime.

Many of them were Venezuelans escaping the Nicolás Maduro regime.

Trump casts himself as an anti-Maduro, anti-socialist, anti-communist American president. So Nicolás Maduro is one of Donald Trump's biggest enemies. This is where Darcy's fleeing from. He's fleeing from Maduro.

Trump casts himself as an anti-Maduro, anti-socialist, anti-communist American president. So Nicolás Maduro is one of Donald Trump's biggest enemies. This is where Darcy's fleeing from. He's fleeing from Maduro.

So Dersi did something that thousands of Venezuelans did. Dersi decides to take the streets. And it was really brave knowing that is that in February 2024 and in March 2024, he decides to protest against the Nicolás Maduro regime. And I say that's very brave because we're talking about a regime known for having political prisoners.

So Dersi did something that thousands of Venezuelans did. Dersi decides to take the streets. And it was really brave knowing that is that in February 2024 and in March 2024, he decides to protest against the Nicolás Maduro regime. And I say that's very brave because we're talking about a regime known for having political prisoners.

So in the second demonstration that Dersi participates in, things get really dark. From what we've been told, after one of these protests, he's taken to this clandestine building.

So in the second demonstration that Dersi participates in, things get really dark. From what we've been told, after one of these protests, he's taken to this clandestine building.

Allegedly, his treatment involved electric shocks and suffocation. So we've been told that Darcy was threatened by the Nicolás Maduro regime, and that if he were ever to march again, that he would be, quote, disappeared, and that he would spend the rest of his life in prison. And I've been told that Darcy was really worried that this could actually happen, because it has been happening.

Allegedly, his treatment involved electric shocks and suffocation. So we've been told that Darcy was threatened by the Nicolás Maduro regime, and that if he were ever to march again, that he would be, quote, disappeared, and that he would spend the rest of his life in prison. And I've been told that Darcy was really worried that this could actually happen, because it has been happening.

None whatsoever. He has no criminal records in Venezuela.

None whatsoever. He has no criminal records in Venezuela.

I mean, the first thing that his family would say and that his sister says is that he's a good guy, right? This is, we're talking about someone that doesn't drink. He doesn't smoke. He literally has a record of having countless jobs on the field, playing soccer, and his life was and is football. But like I said, there is no criminal record of Jersey in Venezuela.

I mean, the first thing that his family would say and that his sister says is that he's a good guy, right? This is, we're talking about someone that doesn't drink. He doesn't smoke. He literally has a record of having countless jobs on the field, playing soccer, and his life was and is football. But like I said, there is no criminal record of Jersey in Venezuela.

The only crime that he committed in the eyes of the government was protesting.

The only crime that he committed in the eyes of the government was protesting.

Yeah, so a little bit after March 2024, he kind of is faced with a decision that many migrants are faced with. Do you leave or do you stay? In his case, he's facing, of course, sort of this political repression in Venezuela. He's facing the reality of his parents, his dad that needs this glaucoma treatment.

Yeah, so a little bit after March 2024, he kind of is faced with a decision that many migrants are faced with. Do you leave or do you stay? In his case, he's facing, of course, sort of this political repression in Venezuela. He's facing the reality of his parents, his dad that needs this glaucoma treatment.

And he comes to the conclusion that he has to leave Venezuela and head towards the United States. Dersi goes through the Darien jungle. Now remember, the Darien jungle is over 10 miles of one of the most dangerous... places that I've been to in my life. He makes his way towards Mexico. Mexico, also from what I've been told by his sister, becomes a very, very dangerous place for Gersi.

And he comes to the conclusion that he has to leave Venezuela and head towards the United States. Dersi goes through the Darien jungle. Now remember, the Darien jungle is over 10 miles of one of the most dangerous... places that I've been to in my life. He makes his way towards Mexico. Mexico, also from what I've been told by his sister, becomes a very, very dangerous place for Gersi.