Fox News Latino: After Hugo Chavez's Death, Venezuelan Expatriates Ponder a Return to Homeland

For years, college student Alexandra Perez had been dreaming for an end to what she called Hugo Chávez’s tyrannical rule in Venezuela.

“The fact that Chavez died fills us with this hope, which makes us celebrate and get together and just talk about what the possibilities for the future could be,” said Perez, 20, a student at the University of Miami. “It’s all hope.”

Perez, who grew up in Miami but was born in Venezuela, pondered if she would ever return to her homeland now that the socialist leader is gone.

“I still have a lot of family in Venezuela, so I could either visit more often or maybe even live there for a year or two to get that important part of my culture back,” said Perez.

Thousands of Venezuelans who fled their country the past decade, many of them settling in Miami, are now in the same predicament – wondering if now with Chávez gone, they should return to Venezuela or remain in a country they have long been calling home.

A large number of professionals and others left their country beginning after Chavez became president in 1999. Many did not agree with his socialist policies, became frightened of soaring crime or sought better fortunes abroad. 

An estimated 189,219 Venezuelan immigrants live in the United States, according to U.S. Census. Besides Florida, there are sizeable Venezuelan communities in Los Angeles and New York.

And while many are hopeful about Venezuela’s future, uncertainly remains a big concern. But many expatriates say even if things change in the South American country – though they doubt they will – they are too established in the U.S. to return.

“I have two teenagers who have lived here for five years already. They speak English and will be attending an American university. That’s the dream of any Venezuelan,” said Pedro Mendoza, a former Venezuelan politician who lives in Miami. “They are the future and I have to live in the present and that’s with my family.”

But he said there are circumstances where he would move back.

“The only reason I would go back is if someone calls me asking me for help to rebuild my country,” he said.

Mendoza is not the only expat who would consider returning.

Henry Lugo, 60, a former military general in Venezuela who has political asylum, said he too would consider going back to his homeland.

“I would return to Venezuela when, through legitimate and transparent elections, the totalitarian regime is defeated, to contribute in the saving of true democracy,” said Lugo. “I love my country and I would like to help restore the well-being of all my people.”

Venezuelans are currently waiting for the government to call presidential elections, which according to the constitution, should proceed within a month after Chavez’s death — meaning a new president should be in place by April 5th.

Whether Venezuelans stay in the U.S. or leave, many in the United States seem to agree on one thing: Change in the country is coming.

“[Chávez’s] death meant the end to a cycle of government and the beginning of a new one. It does not mean it’s a good new cycle,” said Jose Hernandez, 50, chief editor of the newspaper El Venezolano in Miami. “Venezuelans now have the chance to a positive change for their country. When Chavez was alive, change was tougher to achieve.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Vanessa Rodriguez worked at the Miami Bureau of Fox News.

Read story at Fox News Latino online: http://bit.ly/YP1VHR 

[CONTRIBUTION] Fox News Latino: VENEZUELANS REFLECT ON HUGO CHAVEZ'S DEATH

Venezuelans Reflect On Hugo Chavez's Death

By Elizabeth Llorente, Andrew O'Reilly

Published March 05, 2013

Fox News Latino

From the streets of Caracas to  popular restaurants in Doral, Fla., Venezuelans reacted with cautious optimism and some sorrow following news that their populist president had died.

News broke of Chávez’s death on Tuesday evening, as people left work in Caracas and Venezuelans began heading home. While many Venezuelans said they were shocked by the news, the politically tense Venezuelan capital remained nominally peaceful, said Alejandro Grisanti, a member of the Venezuelan-American Association, a non-profit business organization in New York City.

“Everyone so far has remained very respectful, people are for the most part just heading home,” Grisanti, who is also the head of Latin American Research at Barclays bank, said from Caracas. “Many people were expecting this with Chávez being out of the public eye for three months.”

Grisanti added that after a period of mourning, the country will hold elections and the democratic process in Venezuela will resume.

“People should remain calm and let the political process run its course,” Grisanti said. “I expect a more modest government either way.”

Carlos Ramirez Lopez, 67, a Venezuelan lawyer who had lived in exile in Miami for two years, said he hopes that conditions and democracy return to his homeland.

“I would love to be able to go back to my country,” said Lopez, who said he was persecuted in Venezuela because he criticized the government.

Lopez worries that chaos will erupt now because there will be a power vacuum.

“Chávez was a leader who could dominate difficult situations,” he said. “He had a following, he had military devotees. Maduro lacks the mandate, and the charisma. I certainly did not like Chávez, but you have to acknowledge that he was a leader with a following.”

Lopez said he worries that Maduro is trying to cement power by launching a campaign of terror, warning that the world is out to destabilize Venezuela.

After learning of their president's death, hundreds of anguished Venezuelans poured onto the streets of downtown Caracas crying, hugging each other and shouting slogans supporting Chávez.

Clusters of women with tears streaming down their faces clung to each other and wept near the Miraflores presidential palace. Some wore T-shirts with reading, "Go forward commander!"

"I feel such big pain I can't even speak," said Yamilina Barrios, a 39-year-old office worker weeping at a street corner. "He was the best thing the country had ... I adore him. Let's hope the country calms down and we can continue the tasks he left us."

One of Chavez’s daughters, Maria Gabriela, tweeted in Spanish: “I have no words. Thank you, forever. Courage! We should follow his example. We should continue building our nation. So long, Daddy!”

In the Miami suburb of Doral, Venezuelans watched on television as the country's vice president, Nicolas Maduro, announced Chávez had died Tuesday. Doral has the largest concentration of Venezuelans in the United States. 

Doral's mayor and police chief prepared a security and contingency plan in the event of Chavez's death.

There are nearly 190,000 Venezuelans in the United States, most in Miami. Many are strongly anti-Chavez.

At El Arepazo 2, a popular restaurant in Doral, dozens of Venezuelans draped in flags celebrated the news, expressing hope for their country’s future.

“What everyone is celebrating is the possibility of a return to Democracy in Venezuela,” said Pedro Vásquez, 36. “Now there is a responsibility to really pressure the government to have free elections.”

But Xiomara Savino, 55, who was visiting Miami from Venezuela, said she was not happy with the news – mostly because she wanted Chavez to serve justice.

“I wanted to see him pay for all the damage he did to the people of Venezuela,” Savino said. “His death was an easy way for him to go.”

In New Jersey, Monica Bustamante, who left Venezuela 18 years ago, has misgivings about her homeland’s future.

“I hope that things can change for the better,” said Bustamante, who travels home frequently and last visited last year. “But the people in power are determined to stay in power, they’ve made that clear. I’m sure they will make sure Maduro wins.”

Bustamante, 42, said she has tried to get a hold of her relatives in Venezuela, but has been unsuccessful.

“I hear from my friends and relatives on social media that there is a lot of tension in Venezuela,” said Bustamente, who is a day care teacher. “Some people are celebrating, others are mourning. But that’s the kind of civil strife Chavez bred in Venezuela.”

Vanessa Rodriguez of the Fox News Miami Bureau and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Read story at Fox News Latino online: http://bit.ly/1RQ8dmV