My telephone pings late at night time. It’s a message from Gustavo Aleman, our producer in Venezuela.
“Look who made it to America!” the message says, alongside an image of a household standing in entrance of a ‘Welcome to the United States of America’ signal.
It is the Zambrano household from Venezuela.
Our workforce first met them within the Darien Gap in November 2022, whereas we have been filming a narrative in regards to the infamous jungle trek from Colombia to Panama.
We filmed as they criss-crossed rivers, waded by way of deep swimming pools of water and hiked up steep hills made totally of thick mud and rock.
Michael Zambrano was carrying his then two-year-old son Lucien in a child service on his chest, whereas his four-year-old son Jordan clung to his hand.
His spouse Mariangela was seven months pregnant.
They had left Venezuela, travelled to Chile – tried to make a life there however could not – so made their manner by way of Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador after which to Colombia, the place they joined the path – hoping to in the end attain the US.
It took them 5 days to get by way of the jungle and into Panama.
Once they reached Panama they took a breather for a couple of days, earlier than persevering with north by way of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, after which Mexico.
In Mexico City in January, Mariangela gave delivery to a lady they named Ana, however as a result of they didn’t have correct papers, they needed to wait to get a delivery certificates for his or her third baby.
Once they acquired it, they utilized for asylum within the US, and after practically three months of ready they received approval from US Customs and Border Protection to enter the US legally by way of Texas.
In the top it was a six month journey for the Zambrano household, totally on foot, carrying every thing that they had in a single rucksack – and with simply $300 (£235) to their identify.
They at the moment are settling in to life in New York City.
“I feel everything was worth it, it was worth crossing 11 countries and four deserts with no money, just with the help of strangers, and with God’s help,” Michael instructed producer Gustavo Aleman in New York.
The household has been given a room at a shelter for migrants, in addition to meals and provides for his or her youngsters.
Eldest son Jordan has been enrolled in public college the place, Michael proudly notes, he’s studying English.
“The first day we took him to school we were so proud, after all we have been through,” he mentioned whereas strolling residence from college with Jordan on his shoulders.
“This happiness will stay with me all my life.”
Michael is ready for his work allow to reach, however within the meantime he earns slightly cash busking on the streets within the evenings – he’s a singer.
He mentioned: “I perform on the streets on the corner of a restaurant, I sing mostly Colombian music, and people are very supportive.”
He additionally creates content material for his TikTok account, the place he has greater than 36,000 followers.
The Darien Gap is seen as a gateway to America for migrants from everywhere in the world and greater than 500,000 handed by way of in 2023, in accordance with newest figures accessible.
When we mentioned goodbye to Michael and his household – as much as their knees in water and dust – simply over a 12 months in the past, we wished them luck.
However, we identified that guidelines on the US border had modified and their asylum declare could not be processed on the crossing level.
Michael smiled and shook our palms.
“We will get through. The American people are nice, and they will hear our story and they will let us in. God will help them and help us,” he mentioned, wading off into the space together with his household in tow.
They made it.
An unbelievable journey, however one that always does not finish so nicely for 1000’s of others.
Source: information.sky.com”