María Martínez, 29, a Venezuelan attorney, works as a waitress in a well-known Hispanic restaurant in New York. Martínez left her country four years ago because, “there’s not much to do over there.” Born to a middle-class family and educated at Venezuela’s finest university, Martínez left behind her academic achievements to live the life of an undocumented immigrant. “Eventually I’ll get working papers and then everything will be different,” she said, without explaining how she will go about obtaining a work permit. When she arrived in New York in 2000, there were hardly any Venezuelan immigrants here. But that is changing.
“I know many professional Venezuelans who work random jobs because they don’t have papers,” explained Martínez, making it clear that she’s not alone in her situation.
Nowadays, on the subway ride between Manhattan and Astoria or Flushing, words like chamo, gafo, vale and conchale—popular Venezuelan jargon—are heard more frequently.
Although the community is small compared to other Hispanic groups, Venezuela has the fifth largest population in New York City, after Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Argentina, according to the 2000 Census.
Who’s coming?
Carlos Pérez, a professional photographer, and Katiuska Rodríguez, a marketing specialist, both 37, entered the United States five months ago as tourists; their plans, however, entailed more than a simple vacation. “She was unemployed for a while and didn’t see more opportunity in her field,” said Pérez. “I came to be with her.”
Today they rent a room for $550 in a two-bedroom apartment located on West 101st Street in Manhattan and both work for a food preparation company. “We make sandwiches, they pay us $12 an hour, and they treat us well. We can’t complain,” said Rodríguez.
The deterioration of the economy and pressures stemming from the Bolivarian Revolution [President Chavez’ economic and social movement] forced many Venezuelans, especially younger ones, to leave their homeland.
“There are various factors at play that have caused people to begin to leave. Before Chávez this was relatively uncommon,” explained Carolina Escalona, a Venezuelan attorney and doctoral student at the New School University. “Previously, most Venezuelans came to study or with a work visa and eventually got married and made a life in the United States. But these were isolated cases and there wasn’t a community. Now we are witnessing an actual wave of immigration; people are coming and bringing friends and family,” added Escalona.
It is no secret that there is discontent in the country. Members of the Association of Venezuelans Living Abroad [la Asociación de Venezolanos en el Exterior], an organization that is active in more than 17 countries and with a strong presence in New York, aren’t afraid to define themselves: “[We are] Venezuelans who migrate because there is no hope and security in our country; [we are tired of] the deterioration, corruption, ignorance, poverty and, above all, the lack of honesty and loyalty of our leaders.”
However, according to Leonor Osorio, the Venezuelan Consul General in New York who was appointed by Chávez two years ago, there has been no change in Venezuelan immigration.
“I can’t say that during my time here there’s been a pronounced change. The majority of those who are here are students or professionals who have their papers in order and money to take care of their own affairs,” said Osorio.
One thing is certain. According to the 2000 Census, the majority of Venezuelans who live in New York are between 25- and 34-years old and are professionals or university students.
Commenting on this matter, Arturo Ignacio Sánchez, a PhD in urban planning and economics who specializes in Latin America, explained: “The first immigrants [from any given community] always come from the higher classes; later the process of reunification lowers the social composition. I believe that we can expect an increase in Venezuelan immigration in the area.”
An empty number
According to figures from New York City Department of City Planning, in 1990 there were 2,752 Venezuelans living in the five boroughs. By 2000, the number was 6,713, with the majority concentrated in Astoria and Jackson Heights in Queens. But an adjustment in the category “other Hispanics” in the 2000 Census noted an increase—to about 9,886—in the Venezuelan population in New York City.
“Analysis of General Hispanic Responses in Census 2000,” a census report published in May 2003, revealed that there were 122,268 Venezuelans living in the United States. A Cisneros Foundation report (September 2003) put the number at 600,000, with the majority of them living in Florida.
The Community
“I came here from the frontier state of Zulia 18 years ago. I’ve never seen so many Venezuelans in New York as now,” commented Arturo Montoya, who opened El Cocotero restaurant in Chelsea, which offers typical Venezuelan dishes to a growing number of his compatriots. “The timing’s just right,” he said.
Up until last year, Flor’s Kitchen, located at the corner of 9th Street and First Avenue in Manhattan, was practically the only establishment in New York that offered Venezuelan cuisine. Following the Cocotero, 28-year-old Maribel Araujo’s Caracas Arepa Bar opened shop on 7th Street and First Avenue in Manhattan. “We knew that there were Venezuelans, but we never imagined this—the community response has been striking,” says Araujo, who also sells Venezuelan products.
With the onset of growth of this community, Venezuelan organizations with political and cultural interests have begun to appear.
“It’s a very beautiful process because people get to know each other, celebrate their traditions, talk politics and help one another,” says Odalys Martínez, 28, a Venezuelan journalist who is currently a nursing student at LaGuardia Community College.
Amigos de Venezuela en Nueva York [Friends of Venezuela in New York], a very active cultural organization that promotes local talent, organizes concerts and exhibitions, recently launched the “Directory of Venezuelans in New York.”
“We want Venezuelans to get to know each other and advertise their services. The list includes lawyers, designers, doctors, chefs,” said Ernesto Rangel, the association’s president.
Other organizations like 11 de Abril, the Venezuelan Civic Center and the Venezuelan Alliance, all political in character and known for their opposition-minded tendencies, keep the community informed about the Venezuelan political process and organize local elections and protests against the Chávez regime.
“We want to make local Venezuelans conscious of how important it is to be involved in the political process,” said María Gabriela Fabio, creator of the web page April 11, a forum of opposition founded in the name of those who died during the “Carmonaso,” the day two years ago when Hugo Chávez stepped down from power for several hours following a two-month period characterized by unemployment and pressure from the private sector.
This article was written as part of IPA-New York's Ethnic Press Fellowship.
