Sombrera’s journey from Venezuela to Texas took through jungles, aboard trains and now in front of an ICE office on San Antonio’s north side.
SAN ANTONIO — Dozens of men, women and children waited in line for their ICE appointments on San Antonio’s north side Wednesday.
Among them was Steven Sombrera, a Venezuelan who’s been in Texas for just over a year and has continued his mission of trying to obtain legal status during these uncertain times.
Sombrera’s journey from Venezuela to the Lone Star State wasn’t an easy one as he recalls trudging through jungles, taking trains and playing the waiting game with U.S. border officials.
Sombrera eventually crossed into Eagle Pass, giving himself up to border authorities. Like so many others, he waited outside a federal facility, waiting for ICE to call his name with the hopes he can remain in the U.S. another day.
He admits feeling mental anguish, saying there are times when he wonders what’s next. He trusts the legal process so far, but he’s uneasy he hears stories of people being deported in expedited fashion.
Fernando Alvarez, who grew up in Colombia, stood outside the fenced area of the ICE office holding a sign reading “Jesus is an immigrant.”
Alvarez knows people personally who are drowned in fear over the prospect of their loved ones being deported.
“That’s sad, that’s really sad,” Alvarez said. “People is feeling a lot fear, anxiety, people don’t want to go to their jobs because the police or the ICE is looking for them.”
But he’s committed himself to ICE office every Wednesday spreading comfort to the migrant community.
“It’s a message of love,” Alvarez said.
The Trump administration announced Wednesday its reversing the Biden administration’s actions to extend the Temporary Extended Protected Status program for Venezuelans.
Venezuelans who applied for TPS under the 2021 designation can keep their work status and deportation protections through September.
About 600,000 Venezuelans are protected under the TPS program, according to DHS figures.