A New Beginning in Juarez
Juarez, Mexico, has become a refuge for many Venezuelans seeking a better life. Oswaldo Hernandez Tabata, a maxillofacial surgeon, recalls his time in Venezuela during the 2000s when it was still a prosperous country. He traveled to Cuba to further his dentistry studies and was impressed by the health system but disturbed by the restrictions imposed by the communist government.
“I was in Havana and saw certain things and told myself, ‘This will never happen in Venezuela,’” he said. However, within a few years, socialist leader Hugo Chavez began expropriating private companies, forcing producers to sell below cost, and firing experienced administrators while appointing cronies. This led to increased corruption, shortages of basic goods, and a collapse of the Venezuelan economy.
After Chavez’s death, Nicolas Maduro took over in 2013, and the situation worsened with hyperinflation and long breadlines. Hernandez found himself leaving his home in Puerto La Cruz and heading for Mexico. “It’s not easy to leave, but socialism is a synonym for communism. When they take away your freedoms – from being independent to depending on the state – it’s time to leave,” he said.
Hernandez arrived in Juarez, choosing to stay rather than cross into the U.S. He credits the city’s welcoming attitude towards migrants and the similarities between Mexican and Venezuelan cultures for his successful assimilation. He co-founded International X Dental Clinic five years ago, providing jobs for 10 Mexican residents near the Monterrey Tech campus.
Other Venezuelan professionals in Juarez credit their success to hard work and a willingness to adapt. They note that some recent arrivals are not as eager to embrace what Mexico has to offer. “Some Venezuelans may not like my opinion,” Hernandez said, highlighting the challenges of navigating the legal process to validate his professional degree, which took 18 months.
The Juarez Municipal Planning Institute reported that 3.9 percent of the 1.5 million people present in Juarez in 2024 were “migrants or people in transit.” This highlights the growing presence of international communities in the city.
Technology and Innovation in Juarez
Jonalex Herrera, a New Mexico State University film studies graduate, has brought technology into maquiladora training rooms. Since 2018, he has been crafting training videos using virtual reality media to create dynamic and realistic training environments for workers.
“On the tech side, we focus on creating virtual reality and augmented reality to train maquila workers. We are working directly with industry, and we have a success case with Johnson & Johnson,” Herrera said. His company, New Discovery Media, specializes in technology, film, and marketing media.
Herrera’s journey to the U.S.-Mexico border began after Hugo Chavez’s re-election. His family had already moved to Juarez, so he left Venezuela in search of a better future. He secured a Mexican student visa and started taking information technology classes at Monterrey Tech. This led to opportunities in the U.S., but he eventually returned to Juarez as a business owner with cutting-edge digital skills.
He has worked on projects such as mapping Juarez’s historical monuments in 360-degree virtual reality and equipping a migrant with a visor to document his journey into the U.S. “When you arrive as a foreigner to a place that is not your own, what you can contribute has a lot to do with how you are received,” Herrera said.
A Warm Welcome in Juarez
Luis Eduardo Bosco, a Venezuelan entrepreneur, didn’t know what to expect when he first arrived in Juarez with a different Spanish accent. He quickly found a warm welcome from his neighbors. “She didn’t know me and there she was at 5 a.m. every Sunday to bring me pozole. Those are the things that make you feel like you belong,” he said.
Blasco, who came to Juarez 20 years ago, described the city as multicultural and welcoming. He noted that more than half a million Juarez residents are Mexicans who moved here primarily from the states of Durango, Coahuila, and Veracruz. Blasco used his entrepreneurial skills to start a business supplying maquiladoras, including FoxConn in northwest Juarez.
He emphasized the competitive nature of the industry but highlighted the opportunities available in Mexico. “I saw a lot of opportunity. I did give (the United States) some thought, but the opportunity was in Mexico. In time, you fall in love with it,” he said.
Blasco regrets that recent arrivals from Venezuela are not finding the same warm welcome he experienced. However, he noted that it is now easier to get a work permit than it was when he arrived. “People see them with distrust, and that hurts all of us. As in all countries, there are good people and bad people,” he said.
Recommendations for New Arrivals
Herrera and Blasco both emphasize the importance of hard work and perseverance for new arrivals. Herrera warns against the “false dream” sold by third-parties that life is easy if they cross the border into the U.S. Blasco agrees, noting that life in the U.S. is as hard as anywhere else.
“Life in the United States is as hard as anywhere else. You may have a car, but things are much more expensive. It’s very difficult to talk to Americans if you don’t know their language. (In Mexico), you already know the language and the culture is somewhat similar. I stayed here. So, my recommendation is stay here – if you are willing to work,” Blasco said.
