Venezuelan migrants see elections as a hope for change and a better future.

The situation of Venezuelan migrants seeking to cross into the United States from the Mexico border reflects a deep hope for change in their country. This sentiment intensifies in the lead-up to the presidential elections in Venezuela, where many see the electoral process as an opportunity to transform their reality. Abel Jesús Álvarez, a 22-year-old young man, is one of those migrants who trust that the next president will bring a new direction for their nation. "God willing, there will be change," he expressed while in Ciudad Juárez, a crucial crossing point for thousands of Venezuelans seeking a better future. The electoral context in Venezuela is complex. Nicolás Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, is seeking re-election in a contest that appears polarized. For many Venezuelans, like Álvarez, the current government has not met expectations. "It’s useless," stated the young man, who is part of the seven million Venezuelans who have left their country due to the severe socioeconomic crisis. The figure of opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia has become a symbol of hope for those yearning for a change in the nation's direction. Yara Ruiz, a 43-year-old Venezuelan, also shares this perception. The economic crisis, lack of jobs, and food shortages led her to leave her two daughters in her homeland in search of better opportunities. In the shelter where she is staying, Ruiz emphasizes that the responsibility for the crisis lies with Maduro's government. "This president has us in ruin," she lamented, while calling on the Venezuelan population to go out and vote and support a change that, for her, is urgent. Although she cannot appear on the ballot, many of the migrants’ hopes are centered on María Corina Machado, who has been a reference point for the opposition. Her absence in the elections due to political disqualification has not diminished the fervor that her supporters feel for her. Ruiz, like many others, prays for her victory, convinced that a government led by Machado could be the solution to the problems plaguing Venezuela. Argenis Alexander Betancourt, a 30-year-old migrant, also sees in Machado a "light at the end of the tunnel." For him, the eventual triumph of the opposition candidate would mean a first step towards the restoration of his country's economy. "I would wait some time to see how everything is restored and then be able to return," he assured, reflecting the desire to go back to a home that he believes can still be reborn. The electoral atmosphere in Venezuela, however, is tense. Reports of the government's prohibition of entry for international observers, as well as the deportation of political figures, create a climate of uncertainty. The elections taking place this Sunday are considered some of the most challenging in the history of Chavismo, with Maduro facing high social discontent and an opposition seeking to capitalize on this discontent. Meanwhile, polls seem to favor González Urrutia, who promises change and the necessary reconciliation for Venezuela to regain the trust of its citizens, as well as a potential return of the migrants who have been forced to leave their homeland. These voters abroad see the electoral process as an opportunity to influence the country’s future, despite the distance and difficulties they face. The electoral day, which looms as a crucial point, not only for Maduro and his government but for millions of Venezuelans abroad, could determine the future not only for those still living in Venezuela but also for those who implore for change from distant lands. The faith in change stands as a common thread in the stories of the migrants, who see in each election a possibility of hope, a reason to continue fighting for a return to their country with a different future. The situation at the Mexico-United States border, where many migrants await to cross, reflects desperation and the longing for a better future. The lives of these Venezuelans, marked by abandonment and the pursuit of a dream, resonate in the international community. This weekend, as Venezuela heads to the polls, the world will watch closely, aware that the decisions made in this electoral context will have repercussions not only in the South American country but also in the diaspora seeking a new beginning.