Thousands of Venezuelan migrants have come to the US seeking asylum in 2022, risking their lives, often making arduous monthslong journeys by foot and spending their entire life savings just to hav…
but those who make it through are granted temporary status to stay in the country and have started to forge a new life. In one corner of Dallas, Texas, many of the migrants have banded together and formed their own community which they call “Villa Dallas.”
It’s estimated 18,000 Venezuelans now call the Dallas-Fort Worth area home — the vast majority arriving in the last two years, according to the Villa Dallas now spills into the neighboring cities of Carrollton and Addison — suburbs of Dallas and have started to integrate peacefully. The Dallas Police Department told The Post crime there is lower than normal and many businesses in the area have sprung up selling arepas and pastellitos — Venezuelans food staples. Gonzalez established her arepa restaurant there and has seen an 80% increase in business since it opened three years ago.
The newest residents of Villa Dallas moved into the Oaks of North Dallas apartments days after crossing the US-Mexico border near Del Rio, Texas.Before this recent wave, there wasn’t a Venezuelan community in Texas’ largest metro area, where Mexican culture dominates. But just as millions of Americans moving to the Lone Star State have discovered, the strong economy and low cost of living beckoned them to Dallas.
Gonzalez’s family members are among the first to qualify for recent humanitarian parole program for Venezuelans. They were reunited at DFW airport after more than a decade without contact.“When I arrived in Dallas, there weren’t Venezuelan restaurants — no places to eat an empanada or a pastellito,” said Anez — whose restaurant has becoming a meeting place.
. In order to qualify for a temporary visa to enter the country, Venezuelans must have a sponsor in the US, no criminal record and are not allowed to cross the border illegally. If approved, they will arrive by plane and will have permission to work.
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