Venezuelans seeking to cross into the U.S. hope their country will change after elections

“God willing, there will be change.“, Abel Jesus Alvarez, a Venezuelan migrant 22-year-old who is trying to reach the United States from the Mexican city of Ciudad Juarez, in the run-up to the presidential election this weekend in your country.

Álvarez, part of the seven million people who have abandoned Venezuela Due to the serious socio-economic crisis, he expects a victory for the opposition on Sunday Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutiabecause in his opinion the government of Nicolas Maduro “it’s no use”.

Ripein power since 2013, is seeking re-election for a third six-year term in the elections.

Like other compatriots, Alvarez said he would return to his country.If everything goes back to the way it was before”.

Meanwhile, Yara Ruiz, a 43-year-old Venezuelan, pointed out to Maduro government as the cause of the economic crisis that forced her to leave her homeland.

“I left because of the economy, because there is no work, the issue of food that cannot be obtained.“said the woman, who left two daughters in Venezuela and now hopes to be able to cross over USA from a migrant shelter in Ciudad Juárez.

“This president has us in ruins“, he added. “Let everyone go out and vote and go out to support so that this country changes, because if we leave Venezuela it is for a reason.”.

Although she is not on the ballot, migrants are placing their hopes on opposition leader María Corina Machado, who was unable to run as a candidate after being disqualified from political office and is represented by the career diplomat Gonzalez Urrutia.

“I ask God and pray a lot and I hope that this lady (Machado) wins.“, Ruiz said.

“It is a light at the end of the tunnel in this whole process that has been seen in politics in my country.“, said Argenis Alexander Betancourt, a 30-year-old migrant, who added that with an eventual opposition victory he would wait a while while a new government reestablishes the economy”so we can return”.

Venezuela goes to the polls this Sunday to elect a president in an atmosphere of tension and uncertainty.

On Friday, several former governors and other political figures who were to observe the elections reported that they were banned from entering the country or deported by the Venezuelan authorities.

Ripe61, faces the most difficult elections in 25 years of Chavismo, 11 under his command. He assures that his victory guarantees peace in the country and that an eventual arrival of the opposition to power could end in a “bloodbath”.

However, most polls are against him and favour González Urrutia. The 74-year-old opposition leader promises “change”, “reconciliation” and the return of millions of migrants who fled the Venezuelan crisis.