In November 2024, the Build Meson Asylum received a donation of wheelchairs and walkers from a group of Guatemalans residing in Trenton, New Jersey, United States.
The enclosure, located in the La Cieba neighborhood, nuns, Jalapa, provides attention, food and lodging to 60 people of legal age, and at least another 15 arrive every day to request food and a space to rest.
This is the story of Elmer Sandoval, a Guatemalan migrant who arrived in the United States and got work at the City Council of Trenton, New Jersey. Part of his salary destines him to help Jalapa’s neighbors.
Sandoval grew up in Monjas, Jalapa, and next to his family he dedicated himself to tobacco harvest.
“My dad, with a lot of sacrifice, was given the task of giving us study,” he said. In 1984, he fulfilled one of his dreams: to be a teacher.
He explained that he wanted to help his community in the educational area, but did not get a job.
A year later, he decided to migrate irregularly to the United States with two other friends and on April 22, 1985 he arrived in Trenton, the capital of New Jersey.
“We were very difficult to find teacher work, what I had studied, and the economic need of my parents merited more help. That’s how we migrated,” he said.
Sandoval worked as a dishwasher, cook and hotels to earn money and help his parents.
“Life is well sacrificed in the United States. Being far from the family and adapting to a new system is difficult,” he said.
Three years after having arrived in the US, he was given a work permit that allowed him to opt for better jobs.
“I paid lawyers to legalize me. I wanted to return to Guatemala,” he said.
He added that he initiated the procedures to be able to opt for permanent residence, and in 2002 they were authorized.
Sandoval married in the United States with a woman originally from nuns, Jalapa. Two children were born from the marriage.
In 2005, Sandoval and other Guatemalans created a civic association to support the nationals resident in Trenton, New Jersey.
The idea was to carry out activities in the USA and raise money to help communities in Guatemala.
“The Independence Festival in Trenton emerged, where chapines from several surrounding cities participate,” he argued.
According to the Association of Guatemalan merchants of New Jersey, this independence festival is attended by more than 25 thousand nationals.
The association commented that in that city there are 1,500 businesses, and 50% are from Guatemalans.
The members of the associations support an asylum in the La Cieba neighborhood, nuns, Jalapa, and every year the members of the Board of Directors visit the elderly.
“Part of the money collected is for the elderly. In November 2024 we donated wheelchairs and walkers,” Sandoval said.
During the delivery of the donations, the elders thanked the help, since their families do not have the money to buy wheelchairs, and others affirmed that their children have left them abandoned.
In addition, the association sent a van with food for those affected by the eruption of the Fire Volcano.
“We have collaborated for other emergencies in Guatemala. We sympathize with those people who are affected and who do not have enough economic resources,” he said.
Participation in Trenton’s elections, New Jersey
Sandoval said that in 2012 he obtained American citizenship, and five years later he participated as a candidate for councilor for the mayor of Trenton.
“It was a beautiful and complicated experience, because I had the language problem; I do not speak it as a native, and the other participants had an advantage in that aspect,” he said.
He acknowledged that he failed to reach the necessary votes to occupy the position, but was in third place.
“We managed to break the ice to open the gap to young people, children of Guatemalans and Latinos who have been born in the United States. That youth has to get involved in the policy of this country – EE. UU. – to help, in the future, the migrant community,” he emphasized.
In 2019, Sandoval was selected by the Mayor’s Office to work in the housing area.
“From that position I continue to support people looking for a house in Trenton. They look for the help of the city and we help them,” he said.
He acknowledged that he will not participate in a popular election again, and now thinks of his retirement to return to Guatemala.
Participation in elections abroad
Sandoval participated in the Voto Electoral Board abroad during the 2019 general elections.
Sandoval supported the Supreme Electoral Court (TSE) in Trenton, one of the 15 cities where 158 electoral tables were placed in the United States so that the 90,708 registered would issue their suffrage. However, only 1,443 voted.
The interviewee acknowledged that there were nationals who gave a space in their business so that the TSE personnel could make their registration days and carry out the election for president and vice president.
He added that Trenton is New Jersey city with the largest community in Guatemalans.
The Association of Merchants said that there are more than 30 thousand chapines, mostly originating in Quetzaltenango, Jalapa and the East of Guatemala, living in Trenton.
Sandoval said: “When I arrived in the Italian neighborhood,” I was known for the number of people in Italy who lived in the sector – now we called him Guatemalteco neighborhood, “he acknowledged.
Product prices increase
Sandoval said that President Donald Trump’s new policies have had repercussions on increasing the products of the basic basket.
“It is difficult for migrants who continue to reach the US, because everything is expensive. The rent for an apartment is at least $ 1,300, but it can increase depending on the state,” he said.
He commented that there seems to be few job opportunities for undocumented, and that forces up to an apartment to live up to three families.
“People because they suffer, because many people have to accommodate in an apartment. Here are municipal laws that prohibit that,” he said.
I run over the rights of migrants
Ana Gabriela Urízar, lawyer of the world’s largest immigration firm, based in New York, said she has observed, during migrants, a hardening in detention and deportation practices, as well as a decrease in humanitarian approach.
According to Urízar, at the beginning of the Donald Trump government, the deportations of people with criminal records were priority; However, in recent weeks migrants have been arrested who are requesting permanent or asylum residence.
There were also reports from American citizens of Latin ancestry who have been arrested, despite identifying themselves as such and requesting demonstrating it with a passport. “They are not allowing them to return home,” he explained.
He added that among the most violated rights of migrants are: access to a lawyer, the possibility of making a call, the unjustified separation of family nuclei and the denial of due process in deportation.