Odyssey of an Atypical Immigrant to California How a journalist fled his country for political asylum
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londe, white-pale skinned and greeneyed. Santos isn’t your typical immigrant arriving from Central America. He’s an educated journalist fleeing political persecution from Nicaragua. He finds himself in a difficult situation, fleeing from the tentacles of Daniel Ortega’s authoritarian government in Nicaragua. In April 2018, Nicaraguan university students turned to the streets in solidarity with senior citizens who were beaten by police agents as they protested against social security reforms and a rise in their contributions. Among the student victims, 15-year-old Alvaro Conrado was shot in the throat with an AK rifle by police on April 20, 2018, causing him to bleed, making him unable to breathe. “It hurts to breathe,” were the last words he said as he died. His crime: showing solidarity by bringing water to university students who were rebelling against the government in the intense tropical heat. He bought the water with money he had received a few days before as a gift on his birthday. Alvaro was one of almost 100 people killed by Nicaraguan police and pro-government armed forces known as “turbas sandinistas.” About a dozen journalists were robbed, issued threats and attacked since the start of the protests. Angel Gahona, a reporter, was shot dead in the coastal city of Bluefields, during a Facebook Live broadcast. Nicaraguans reacted with a roller coaster of emotions, sadness, rage, fear, and a feeling 8
Orange Appeal | 2021
of not being able to do anything. The events of April 2018 were reminiscent of the 1970s Somoza dictatorship. From this juxtaposition, many Nicaraguans equated president Daniel Ortega to Anastasio Somoza who was overthrown in 1979. Nauseated from this political chaos, many Nicaraguans have fled the country, seeking refuge. Reflecting on the dark gathering
ent countries around the world loOKing for asylum. We’ve done it because we’ve lost our freedoms after 40 years in which one person has wielded power, in this case Daniel Ortega. You should be able to demand your citizenship rights in any democracy in the world. We supposedly live inside a democracy, but the government reprisals are very tough and ultimately results in death.
“I miss everything tremendously, because at this moment my wife is pregnant and my daughter will be born in two weeks, but I can’t be there.” storm clouds looming on the horizon, Santos decided to flee the country and seek political asylum in the United States. He arrived in California and has adapted as best he can to his new life. You’ve told me you’re from Managua, Nicaragua, right? Yes. Were you born in Managua, Nicaragua? Yes. Why did you have to leave Nicaragua and seek political asylum in the United States? I’m not the only one. At this moment we are many, thousands of Nicaraguans that have been forced to immigrate to differ-
They shoot you, they hunt you, it is very difficult! During my last days in the country, there were many protests due to the social security reforms. The government’s response was to shoot the university students who led this struggle, they shot the students for peaceful protest. So, this caused an outrage in society, then many sectors of civil society started to join the protests. This struggle has been called “the Self-Convened,” because anybody can self-convene or can convene a protest to declare himself or herself against the regime. This has caused many of us who don’t agree with the
regime to exile ourselves from our country. OK, how was your experience before coming here to California? It’s been a dreadful experience. I came under much stress, much stress. A stress caused by having to sleep under my bed because at night the impacts from the shots would hit the walls of the houses. I spent three months during which I couldn’t go out to the street. Three months in which you are under curfew, in which you can feel the insecurity. You can walk in any area of the capital city Managua and at any moment they can shoot you. That’s shocking, but how about here in the U.S.? Have you had any culture shock regarding the differences between American and Nicaraguan cultures? Well no, not really. I haven’t had a cultural shock because I’ve been well connected to global culture. I have visited the United States on many occasions. It is my first time in California. It is my first time here. After having studied a bit and analyzed which state could be the best state that I should travel to in search of asylum, I determined California was the best one. I realized that the struggles of pro immigrant groups have gained much ground in California and reflected on what California’s sanctuary state status entails. Besides, the Latino community here in California is very large. I immigrated from my country and I won’t possibly return for a very long time while the current regime that governs Nicaragua remains in power. So, I believe California is a very interesting gateway for me into the United States, into another culture because I can connect to this Latino community. If later I have to move to a different state, I believe California will have given me the ability to assimilate this other culture.
JORGE MEJÍA PERALTA
bites | currents
