The ordeal of a Venezuelan woman who crossed the Darién with eight children to reach the US: her husband was detained by ICE
Carmen Teresa Benavides and her husband Jorge Socorro Cuenca left Venezuela with their eight children. They crossed the Darién jungle, one of the most dangerous routes in the world, arrived in the United States in 2024 and requested asylum. However, a few months ago the man was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Florida.
TL;DR
- Carmen Teresa Benavides and her husband Jorge Socorro Cuenca emigrated from Venezuela with their eight children in 2024, crossing the Darién jungle and seeking asylum in the U.S. for their daughter's medical needs.
- The daughter suffers from a congenital malformation affecting her spine and nervous system, requiring constant palliative care and medical equipment.
- The husband was arrested by ICE in January in Florida for being an undocumented immigrant driving without a license and is currently detained.
- The family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for an immigration lawyer, as they believe legal representation is crucial for their asylum case and to seek humanitarian parole for the husband.
- Benavides states that returning to Venezuela is not an option due to the lack of guaranteed electricity for her daughter's medical equipment and her daughter's inability to travel by plane.