Venezuela wins migrant ‘world cup’

EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – It’s been many weeks since Anderson crossed Panama’s Darien Gap, toiled through Mexico and came to realize the only way to cross into the U.S. was to sit tight and wait for an asylum appointment.

The wait at various migrant shelters for that far-off CBP One appointment in El Paso has been long and tedious, with nary a reason to smile. Until last Thursday, that is.

That’s when Juarez, Mexico, city officials organized a soccer tournament that gave a chance to citizens of eight countries temporarily residing at shelters the chance to wear their country’s colors and compete.

“It’s is something very beautiful that all the people in the shelters come out to play, have fun for a while,” said Anderson, who represented Venezuela. “We leave the stress behind for a while, all the things we have gone through. … Thank you, Mexico, for giving us some happiness.”

The Venezuelan team won the migrant “world cup” tournament Thursday at Estadio 20 de Noviembre (November 20th Stadium) in Juarez. The 2-1 win over Ecuador makes Venezuela a two-time champion, though everyone who played in last year’s team left Juarez long ago to pursue the American dream.

“We started this event last year to promote friendship among the migrant community (and) promote physical activity to the shelters,” said Santiago Gonzalez Reyes, director of the Juarez Human Rights Office that oversees the Kiki Romero government shelter in central Juarez.

Wearing their country’s colors and practicing what is the national sport in most of Latin America boosts the morale of the migrants. “It is a dignified activity that takes away the stress for people on the move, people who love their country very much,” Gonzalez said.

Lauriel Riquel, a migrant from Panama, also praised Juarez officials for organizing the one-day tournament.

“It’s de-stressing after walking through other countries,” he said. “I left my family, my children but we all know it was to accomplish a goal: Trying to provide the best for our children.”

The 20-some migrant shelters in Juarez remain half full, with many waiting for CBP One appointments and others taking a respite before deciding if they will go back or go across the border by any means necessary.

The shelters range from from the massive Kiki Romero municipal gym and the federal Leona Vicario occupying the grounds of a former manufacturing plant, to small church-run spaces.

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