♪ >> this episodes of "united shades of america" from late 2019, months before the pandemic with the country and also months before george floyd was killed by minneapolis police. and the wave of protest that's followed. at the time i was welcomed into people's homes. i was able to have the kind of intimate conversation that's have become impossible during the pandemic. you see handshakes, high fives

and hugs. now i'm grateful to have had that opportunity. i look forward to being able to do it again some day. i hope you enjoy this episode. >> look, i know a little bit about a lot of things. i'm the annoying guy with wikipedia stuff in conversations. there is stuff that wikipedia is like, no, read a book, talk to the people you know and keep your mouth shut. >> explain all of it to me. >> i'll try. >> for me, venezuela is one of those issues. this week i'm in and around miami talking to venezuelans and venezuelan-americans about everything going on in venezuela. i'm also learning to hit a 90 mile per hour fastball.

when i told my producers i wanted to do an episode about venezuelan, they said great we're going to miami. i said isn't it jaust cubans? they said, no, it's a hub for all latin americans. what do you like about miami? >> >> a lot of dominicans, colombian. >> what is your racial ethnic background? >> i'm mixed white, i guess. bunch of different whites. >> a bunch of different whites. >> the biggest population of venezuelans and venezuelan americans in the united states is right outside miami in the suburb of doral yep, that doral. between 2000 and 2017, the venezuelan born population grew

320%. >> the reason? >> violent clashes in venezuelan. >> the political crisis in their country. look, i read articles, i watched news clips, gone to the democracy now binder and i haven't been able to figure out how it got this bad. he says he's the president. but he's got all the hallmarks of a dictator. one, ill -- gotten gain, two, using that to control the military, three, not taking care of his people. and that's clear when you come here. doral, florida. the number of venezuelan seek a sigh -- asylum grows every day. whale the governments granting

asylum shrinks every day. for families that are newly arrived, they're crushed by international chess thump disguised as politics and trying to figure out how to start their lives all over again. >> hello. >> hi. how are you? >> are these for you? >> etiquette tip. you show up to a home the first time, bring gifts. >> thank you. >> they were successful professionals in their hometown, a beautiful neighborhood in the capitol of caracas. they decided to leave it all behind seeking a better life for their two daughters. when did you all get here? >> this year. >> how has it been? how has the adjustment been? >> we were almost running away from venezuela. we were nervous what we were going to find here. >> and what did you do in venezuela like what was your life like there? >> medical scientist. i had my own lab. 80 people worked for me.

>> it was tough. >> but that was five months ago. >> yes. that was a long time ago. >> that is way back five months ago. >> what jobs have you had since you've been here? >> here, wow. when i come here, my first job was, like, dishwasher. and that was tough. >> it's got to be humbling to go from being a top of your profession as a medical scientist to washing dishes. the. >> yeah. >> i'm really thankful for people that gave me the job. >> can you tell me what life was like there and why you really felt you had to go? >> i was really concerned about my girls, about our safety over there. >> i heard people, like, some people stealing water. >> stealing water. everything. they steal everything. light bulbs. sometimes from our house. >> steal them from your house? >> yes, the garbage can.

the big one. he stole that. yes. they could take water out of the river and storage in the homes. people steal everything. they see they can steal. >> and i know that the money has really been devalued, right? >> oh, my god. >> i will give you a bill from 10,000 -- >> right now that is worth a quarter. >> when your country's money has thousands on it and regular people are holding a 10,000 note that, is never a good sign. sglo this is -- so this had is? >> that's origami. >> they use this as a napkin. >> it's a napkin? it's worth more as a napkin than it is as currenc y.

do you have hope for visions of going back and things get better? >> no. >> definitely not. >> back in the 1970's venezuela was the richest country in latin america. with the world's largest oil reserves and a stable democratically elected government, the people of venezuela enjoyed the highest standards of living and the most beautiful countries in the world. >> as far as i can remember i was little, my parents were always listening to radio and reading the newspaper.

>> she is the co-host of a spanish language political affairs show that focuses on the latin american community here and abroad. >> i've been here for 30 years. i've seen the growth. before i used to drive half an hour to 45 minutes to buy venezuela food. where now here in doral, you have a restaurant every five minutes. >> that's funny to me. walking around in this area, because i hear so much spanish, i don't speak that much spanish. it is the only time in my life that i feel like a white person. >> wow. >> i don't know what all these people are saying. >> were they nice to you? >> everybody is nice. everybody's been nice. >> yeah. >> okay. that's good. >> all right. talk about the role of radio and what's going on. >> venezuela has no free press.

so with the phones, they're able to listen be informed. in venezuela, there is no information. >> i know a secret about you. >> you know a secret about me? >> what's that? >> yeah. i know that in 2012 you voted for a man named barack obama. >> yes, i did. they told you. >> and in 2016, you voted for a man named donald john trump. >> yes, i did. i didn't tell anybody that. i figure -- >> the only administration has really done something in the last 20 years against the dictatorship is donald j. trump. whether you like him or not, i do like the way this administration has worked against the dictatorship. i'm always going to be very grateful for it. >> so what has trump done? he expanded sanctions started by president obama and president bush before him.

remember presidents imposing bans on certain individuals and stopping all business with venezuela state oil company. the goal, pressure the president to step down. besides the sanctions and photo ops, trump does a lot of talking. >> all options are on the table. the strong ones and less than strong ones. and you know what i mean by strong. >> i have no idea what you mean. i'm betting you don't either. as we all know, talking tough and doing something are different. sanctions against the rich and powerful in venezuela do not trickle down to help the people fighting for basic needs. it never works out that way. despite all the sanctions, he is still in power. and most of what the trump administration is doing around asylum and refugees in this country is directly hurting the people of venezuela. if somebody comes across the

boarder claim asylum because of what is going on in their land, certainly that's where going to happen. >> it's happening a lot. >> i feel like america was set up as a place that's like, you know, give me your star. >> do you believe that everybody should come here? >> come here? >> free to come in? >> to america? >> like, with no papers? >> certainly this feels like venezuelan americans are americans. these are the people. if there is something we can do, we should help. >> definitely. we are the land of the free. it has to be with certain rules and regulations. like everything in life. >> if i give you the magic wand to fix venezuela, what do you do with that wand and how do you fix it? >> that's a tough one. >> i only ask tough questions. >> you do. >> i'm very charming. i have a cute smile. >> it is charming. >> but what do you do? >> what would i do? first of all, i would change the government. i would step on top of the

oppositon if needed. like a very direct military intervention. >> you think military intervention? you would recommend america sends troops? >> no boots on the ground. but when you're dealing with a dictatorship, you have to become three times worse than them. because they have all the power. they are not good people. we need new blood in venezuela. (vo) with t-mobile for business, your business has an easy choice. the largest 5g network... award-winning customer satisfaction... insanely great value. choose. any. three. ready when you are.

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a big part of being in the venezuelan community is sending people back home. it's really hard for my grandma. it's hard to find stuff. you can see there is toothpaste and stuff like shampoo over here. we came here about eight years ago. and things were not at bad which when i came. but i can't imagine what it's like now. >> okay. >> >> the issue is very intricate and complicated.

and the issue is that there is a true humanitarian crisis happening right now. >> this woman is a venezuelan-american journalist and political strategist that came here for college in 1999 and never left. she is often torn between her desire for reform back home and her political affiliation here in the states. much less important, this is the first time i had a coffee. >> it began as a socialist regime. but it's years and years of using venezuelan resources to put in their own pockets. their multibillionaires. it's important to remember that. all of the oil in venezuela belongs to the government. it was nationalized many years ago. so all of that oil goes right into the government's pocket. wouldn't it be amazing if it was used for actually things. but kids are dying in the hospitals because they don't have alcohol to clean the wounds. it's that basic. why is that even important to the united states? there is a massive refugee crisis.

they're about to be more refugees than the syrian crisis have produced which is incredible. and they're going all over their region. >> so how did they end up here? let's start with hugo chavez, a member of the united socialist party. he was the president throughout the 2000. like the socialist should, he spread the country's wealth around. there is better access to health care, education and food. but chavez also borrowed money against oil revenues which fluctuated wildly and like a bad credit card, debt piled up. after he was diagnosed with cancer, chavez encouraged people to vote for his then vpmodoro which people did handing maduro a slim victory in the 2013 election. once in power maduro was more interested in tightening the grip on the military than the welfare of the people that voted for him. sound familiar? seems like there was a point at which socialist policies were working in ven ez what ilya. -- in venezuela, and then it was

tied up in standard run of the mill governmental corruption. h -- >> this has noithing to do with socialism. >> this thugs in power. >> throughout his first term, falling oil revenues and complete breakdown of basic services left an ever larger number of venezuelans destitute. in 2018, maduro claimed victory in an electiona seen as fraudulent and labelled a dictator by rivals because dictator. and which point a legislator named juan claimed he was the president. and thanks to trump's backing, he is. but he has no power, no money, and no military. so, president? if you even try to look at this through a u.s. lens of the left and right, good luck. because in venezuela, maduro is politically on the left and trump is on the right. but who do you think trump has more in common with? >> i mean this is how politics

works in this country, as you know. whose team am i on? >> and that is a problem that venezuelans have. the we're divided by venezuelan and american political parties. >> you have four different vibes. >> or more. here when trump came out and said the famous all options are on the table. it became very, very unpopular to, you know, speak against trump. and so when i speak publicly about democrats, they look at me like i feel the same way. i can't say it out loud. because it's just not cool right now. and now we're all divide wld you support one way or another or don't support him. do you feel he's done enough or not enough? and so everyone we're all just kind of apart. it makes it very, very difficult to get thing anything done. >> no matter where they fall on the political spectrum, the one place they can all hang out together is serving up authentic cuisine and news from back home.

>> when something happen that is important, we came to there. i think it is hard for them. >> embassy. >> embassy. right. >> i got you. jose is a former venezuelan military officer who came to the u.s. fleeing political persecution. he spent two years in detention centers across america before being granted asylum in 2006. >> he is very conservative and i'm very liberal. >> yeah. >> and you wore the white shirt and you the black shirt. >> yes. >> you find some people here that they believe that they donald trump and i love venezuela. for me, nothing. >> that is not true. >> that is true. >> why? >> you speak against everything. >> okay. >> you want another? >> maybe. maybe. >> maybe. >> me, no. i don't want 60 years.

>> i don't think. so you tell the truth. >> 60 years? oh, no. oh, my god. no way, jose. >> no way, jose. that was heard correctly. >> watch them. you are friends? >> yeah. >> oh, my gosh. >> all right. all right. >> clearly. >> in 2008, jose found aid politically persecuted venezuelans in exile and they meet here. they help them stay informed and connected on immigration and asylum issues. >> in the united states, we need to help. >> and your organization helps democrats and republicans? >> whatever helps our community.

i will support. that is the most important. >> what do you think about immigration now. it feels like whatever donald trump is saying about venezuelans, he is not doing a lot for immigrants and asylum seekers. >> they're already talking about it. i know venezuela, much like america, people come in all shades. you know, you can be a light skinned, blue eyed venzuelan, is it like that in venezuela? >> it's more about rich or poor. >> do you think you can go back? you think so too? >> i think we found three things that you agree on. i'm looking for my client. i'm his accountant.

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for many newly arrived venezuelans, the most pressing need is finding a place to live and a job. one sector that is always hiring, even if if the pay is low, is the gig economy, construction, manual labor and ride sharing services like uber. >> hello. >> picking up walter. much that is my uber name. >> yeah. i think i got the right penitentiary.

i saw the picture. >> this man arrived here from venezuela 14 years ago with his wife. he's been fighting for temporary protective status and citizenship. he is a part time uber driver while he fights his case. >> how long have you been driving? >> for uber, for four years. >> what did you do for work in venezuela? >> i was a lawyer. since then, i've been here battling my case of asylum. >> you were in detention? >> yes, sir, for a month. >> what was it like? >> it was bad, it was a real different experience. i have never been in a jailin my life before. it changes my life and the way i think. i was there christmas and new year. i mean, that was, it was really, really bad. you know, mentally, they destroy you there. i never want to go there again. >> so, why did they deny your asyl asylum?

>> the representation that i got, it was so bad the government did not believe my case. >> you had a bad lawyer. >> yes, basically. >> it has to be frustrating when you are a lawyer to have a bad lawyer. >> yes, yeah. >> the united states has been the country that people can turn to when fleeing from persecutio persecution. the opportunities for asylum seekers are drying up in the country. now the sign should just reseade reserve the right to refuses service. 4 million venezuelans have left their country since 2013. as a result, the venezuelan asylum seekers applications have been going up, and over half of them are denied. >> our immigration system in the country, the whole system is

broken and it need to be fixed. in my situation, for example, 14 years in the country. i don't have a criminal record, i have two kids, american kids. >> your kids are american citizens. they were born here. >> yes, yeah. i feel american. >> how are they dealing with the fact that you have to -- >> i tell my wife got my kids and for first time, in the whole time, she have to explain, you know. we are facing the possibility to, you know, leave the country. >> hm-mm. >> after she explain to my son, who is 13 years old, you know, what's going on. >> yeah. >> he said, mom, if you take me to another country, right, i'm an american citizen. how am i going to be an immigrant there, right? and how you can guarantee what happened to you right here now, is not go to be happen to me over there? that break my heart. i'm still fighting and hoping my case will be approved soon.

>> for me growing up in venezuela, baseball was everything that i knew of. >> when did you think, i can make the major leagues. >> when i was 14 or 15 years old. the scouts came up to my parents and said, your boy may be able to be a professional baseball player. >> baseball is way more venezuela's pastime than ours. and baseball has provided a path out for some like miguel rojas. initially signed by cincinnati, he found his way to the miami marlin wills, and for a venezuelan, that has to be better than playing in cincinnati. >> when you were in baseball, was the goal major leagues? >> yes, but my family was high on me going to skpochool and be

a good human being before being a baseball player. >> when was it like being traded to the venezuelan capitol in america? >> i feel like i found my second home. >> do you get back to very wel convenient -- >> i feel guilty talking about the stuff. i am helping my family so. and other families, they probably don't have the help i provide to my family. i can only imagine how bad for them it is. you see how fortunate we are that we are here. and we are free. >> are you hopeful about venezuela? >> of course, you can never lose the hope. actually, one of my dreams is, to my son, to be able to play in the fields that i play. you know. >> yeah. >> so the only way for that to happen, is that the situation to get better. >> i appreciate you speaking

out. >> any time. you should try? i brought my bat so you can use it. >> oh, wow. >> my sport when i was a kid was books. so, like the -- >> let's see what you have, man, let go. ♪ ♪ >> what? come on, man, you have to give me a better effort. oh, my gosh. oh, okay. >> i can't even, am i close? >> i don't think so. not even close.

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♪ though venezuelans in the u.s. are largely democratic leaning, here in doral, the miami go spmp is getting to wor. now, my spanish is not great, but i do speak conversational republican. so i have a pretty good idea, i don't agree with much of this. all right, i think i've heard enough. breaking news, in every president ally election since 1996. the winner of florida has won the white house. and the venezuelan american republicans club of miami-dade in doral is working hard to keep that streak going.

founding members, the president of the club and picked by the miami gop and pablo perez, the president and treasurer. >> we need to support the cause. >> the only administration that has gone against what is happening right now is the trump administration. >> what do you think the trump administration has done that helped venezuela? i pointed like in baseball, i will pass it to you. you are the dwyane wade since i'm in miami. >> basically since the beginning on of of tf can -- the beginnin the trumped a membership stra a been focused on venezuela. the trump administration, said, well i will give support to the

constitutional president. even though he said all the options are on the table and you can read that, you know -- >> when a president says that. -- >> in different ways. >> we could be sending military. >> exactly. it sounds like troops. the options are sanctions. >> is it working? >> of course, it's working, it's better than nothing. >> okay, well better than nothing is also like -- okay. >> it's better than nothing. >> but is it a lot better than nothing? or a lot. >> a lot better than nothing. >> we have two venezuelas. you see the venezuela that are eating from the trash, the entire family and the oneses that are going to restaurants and drinking champagne. >> do you feel there's sanctions the people doing all the misdeeds is one thing, but then to hear like families eating on it of the trash, is it helping those people at all what trump

is doing? >> probably not. >> they don't feel it. they don't feel the impact. i mean, those people, they worry about what to eat every single day. they are not thinking about, the policy, the politicians and the sanctions, they have no idea, they are just trying to survive. ♪ >> okay. this is the most republicans i have ever talked to in one episode. that's fine, but i sure could use a cold fresh shot of bay area lefty juice to get my right again and maybe some candles. >> trump is basically the same power hungry person that chavez was, it's a same thing, it's a different leverage. it's a same thing with different sub titles. >> they are speaking two different political languages but it's the same thing. >> it is the same thing. we are getting votes based on

hate. >> maria is a artist and born and raised in venezuela. she recently arrived in miami where she came to find a community that she could not find in her hometown. it's a roots collected black house, it's been brought together to celebrate. >> it one of my favorite places in miami. they hold vendor spaces, they have the black market. it's the first black and brown black market. >> you don't mean black market. >> no, for us by us. >> talk about the afro latino experience. >> when chavez goes in to power, his entire thing was giving power to the minorities. but, basing that power on hate speech instead of this idea of talking down on minorities, you have them talking down on the majority of venezuelans.

who are white, who have access to education, who are blue eyed and blonde and are european decent, so in a way you are creating this division, where if you are black, brown, or indiginous, you are a chavez supporter. >> you feel like the mic is coming your way, but if you are not, you feel like the mic is being taken away. >> we have had movements like that in this country. i will go on youtube sometimes and listen to young malcolm x speeches like, i know it's not all good. but something about it. i like the tone of his voice. there's a way that that motivates people who are out of power, minorities to feel like, we have to kick the door down. we can't just ask for permission anymore. but it can certainly take an ugly turn. >> and that's what it did. >> how do you identify yourself? >> i see myself as an afro latina, because there's african heritage in my family. but i have members of my family

that don't consider themselves afro latino, but they are black. >> you you mean, as in like this -- >> yeah, they are dark skin. >> if i was like, i don't see myself as black and i run in to those black people, it's not good. >> yeah, and it's mostly because black indiginous and brown is tied to chavez and the government and all of the things that we don't like. >> it's funny, my wife is white, i have three mixed race daughters. my daughter is the same shade as you and i have to really explain to her that yes, you are light, but you are black. and if i let you go out in the world and not let you know you are black, that can put you in danger. so it's important to know that this stuff is bigger than shade of skin. >> it's no longer about black people verse white people.

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♪ when you see a person in need, have you two options. if you want to see to the other side, you decide to do something. and i decide to do something. when you help, you are giving them a better life. a better beginning in this country. >> out of a nondescript storage space in doral, she is doing the lord's work. i'm not just saying that. this is literally what that guy jesus was talking about. >> notebooks. computers. >> oh, wow. with an army of volunteer, she runs this. a nonprofit that takes donations and gives them out for free to until you arriving venezuelans, but it's like a mini mall, they

have things that they need, and things that make the tough transition just a bit easier. like coffee makers. >> i had my eye on this. >> yeah, this is big. >> you need this for kids. >> toys only. >> it's like christmas. >> that's why it's my mission, to have families have quality of life. >> how long have you been doing this? >> almost, four years. >> how do you afford to do this? >> i pray. >> you pray, is that what you said? oh. please, lord. >> so this is the christmas locker. >> yeah, we just opened because the first christmas in the united states is really sad. you have to push the family. they have to celebrate. >> i would never have to thought of that, you have on push them to celebrate? >> yeah, they are sad. they remember venezuela.

they don't want to leave. it's a life or death decision. decision. >> look, kamau, please. >> oh, wow. >> you have to try to find the decoration for the christmas and for the house. >> we've got some in here. i've been working. >> and that's very important. mm-hmm. >> how long have you been in america? how important is it to decorate for christmas, being that you're away from home?

do you like being here in america? well, yeah, because i asked you a question and you understood what i said, so your english is good. see, you even understand me now. >> yes. >> what do you miss about venezuela? >> you're going to start making new friends. i'm sure of that. >> you're very -- you're a very strong young man. i don't know, suddenly when i asked that kid what he missed on venezuela, it sounded like this is such a dumb question to ask

because he's a kid. of course he misses a lot. and then he broke down crying and i was like -- i just feel bad. i didn't mean to do that to him. but nothing makes it as clear about how things -- how bad things are in venezuela as that. an excited kid. just wants to play baseball. misses his friends. that's it. i'm a performer. -always have been. -and always will be. never letting anything get in my way. not the doubts, distractions, or voice in my head. and certainly not arthritis.

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♪ note there is this moment that i go and i dance and i just forget about everything. ♪ when i get to dance, it's just, you know, everything is gone. this is my time, my space for me. that's it. ♪ >> how long have you been a dancer? >> since i was 4 1/2. so pretty much my whole life.

>> wow. and ballet the whole time? >> yes. >> violin rodriguez fled venezuela three years ago with her family, leaving behind her friends and a dance studio that was like her second home to start a new life here as a high school sophomore. lucky to her, miami is home by the ballet art studio started by this couple. >> this is a new country for me. >> yeah. >> but i feel happy in miami. i feel like i'm home. >> ruby and vlad, both u.s. citizens, offer scholarships to disadvantaged members in the community, many of them coming from venezuela. >> so when you came, did you come by yourself? >> no, i came with my mom and my brother. and throw montee months later m came. >> everyone is here now? >> yes. >> how important has school been? >> they're my second home. i'm there almost every single day from monday to sunday. >> that's why we opened our

studios to all these kids that come from venezuela. asking for help or for a place to be free, safe. >> for me, i'm just forever blessed and thankful and grateful for the opportunity that they gave me. it's just, yeah, look at me. >> it's all right. >> she's really trying to make you cry. >> yes. >> i'm not. i'm not. >> no, no, no, no, no, don't be sorry. so you're currently an asylum seeker? >> yes. it's been three years and we don't have any answers for now. >> is the american government doing enough to support venezuela? >> who wants to say something? >> this is the pause i get from every venezuela when i ask this question. >> i mean, for example, was an excellent student. >> straight a's, a.p. classes. when they get to the college to

register they tell them, well, you don't have a status. >> so because you are an asylum seeker. >> she doesn't have a status. >> she can't go -- >> she can go but has to pay international -- >> you had a scholarship? >> yes, i had a 75% scholarship, almost a full ride. >> so you went all the way to college, to the college? >> yes, i was there. i was actually picking my classes that day. yeah, it was just insane. >> to be honest, i don't understand in this country why they are not giving opportunities to hardworking people. to obviously talented people. >> so i hate to ask this question. how do you -- are you hopeful about this? >> i want to say yes. >> yeah. >> i am, you know? i'm still waiting for that day that we get the call and we just go and everything's going to be fine and we're -- you know? >> we've got to trust the system, you know? unfortunately. >> yeah, unfortunately. >> unfortunately, we have to trust the system. ♪ >> trust the system.

is there a system? it sure doesn't feel like there's one, here or in venezuela, but i'm not going to try to sum this all up for you, i'm going to let the people who know speak on it. >> every venezuela here, everyone has a family member or a friend who is undocumented. so you're always living in fear that they're going to get picked up. the truth is even though the trump administration is saying we support the venezuela people, we support venezuela freedom, deportations are continuing. they're denying asylums for venezuelans left and right. so the reality is that more venezuelans are being deported to this place where they could end up dead just for thinking differently. >> it's really weird to think that a country that i lived in, i grew up in doesn't exist anymore. >> how can you miss something that doesn't exist anymore? >> wow. >> i understand probably why presidents, sometimes they close

the door to venezuelans, but they should open their hearts and understand that we didn't go out of venezuela because we wanted to. ♪ after suggesting the fda chief was part of the deep state, president trump now praising him over a controversial call to combat the coronavirus. preparing for a party of one in charlotte, trump's booking himself to dominate all four nights of the republican national convention. plus, evacuations in california and louisiana as fires ravage the west and the gulf coast prepares for a one-two punch from an angry sea. hello and welcome to our viewers all around the world. i'm michael holmes and this is "cnn newsroom."