Sending a photograph with Santa Claus, a migrant father ready in El Paso tells son in Venezuela his Christmas reward could also be delayed
CNN
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When Santa Claus arrived at migrant shelter in El Paso, Texas, to convey presents for the youngsters, one migrant requested for only a picture with him.
The picture Geovanny Caripaz, 39, took was rapidly despatched via WhatsApp to his 7-year-old son in Venezuela.
“I advised him Santa is within the US, so his current could also be delayed attending to Venezuela,” Caripaz mentioned.
His son, Carlos Santiago Caripaz, desperately wished a motorbike for Christmas, in accordance with his father, who left Venezuela three months in the past.
Responding in a voice memo, the kid advised his father he beloved the image and requested if it was actually Santa who was with him.
Caripaz, breaking down, advised CNN the bike will come after he finds work in the US.
“I advised him it might come on Three Kings Day or in some unspecified time in the future in January,” he mentioned.
Caripaz is planning on touring to Dallas, the place he has household and associates. However for now, he has been sleeping on the streets close to the Sacred Coronary heart Church migrant shelter, which is at the moment over capability.
El Paso’s temperatures have turned frigid due to the winter storm sweeping throughout the US, and amid a current surge in migrant arrivals, many like Caripaz have struggled to search out shelter.
The town declared a state of emergency final weekend over hundreds of migrants dwelling in unsafe situations, as a Trump-era border coverage conserving migrants out of the US stays in flux amid court docket proceedings.
Lots of the migrants who’re coming into El Paso will not be trying to keep, according to city officials, however the native infrastructure is struggling to help the crowds pouring in and trickling out.
The Sacred Coronary heart Church shelter mentioned it’s prioritizing ladies and kids in the course of the chilly entrance, and has been open to all migrants, no matter their immigration standing. Tons of of individuals proceed to attend exterior the church.
Many migrants advised CNN sleeping in 20-degree temperature has been very troublesome, nevertheless it’s being away from their households that’s particularly onerous on Christmas.
“I do it for my kids,” mentioned Caripaz. “I got here to work, I’ve religion…[My son] desires his bike and I advised him Santa can’t convey it but, however he’ll convey it in January.”
