The Trump administration’s recent travel ban on nationals from over a dozen countries—including Venezuela, Cuba, and Haiti—has sparked fresh anguish for many Venezuelan families separated by political upheaval and economic collapse. The restrictions severely limit legal visa options for those seeking to reunite with loved ones.
One affected person is Sasha Escalante, a 44-year-old radio producer in Miami battling a severe skin disease called Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. While fighting for her life, she applied for a humanitarian visa to bring her elderly parents from Venezuela to the U.S., but was denied despite the urgency. Her parents had hoped for a tourist visa appointment in Madrid, but the new travel restrictions have all but eliminated that hope.
Escalante, who fled Venezuela in 2012 after government censorship shut down her TV station, now faces the pain of exile compounded by her health struggles and family separation. Her father, a retired engineer with longstanding U.S. ties, is also impacted by the ban, which overlooks personal histories.
Her story illustrates the human toll behind the sweeping policy, as many Venezuelan refugees and immigrants face an uncertain future apart from their families.
