ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how Venezuelan migrants in both Peru and Europe relate to their country of origin after leaving. Drawing on interviews conducted as part of the MICLACAS project, it examines how traditions, emotions, and political views shape these evolving ties. Migrants often hold on to cultural practices like food, music, and holiday celebrations, though these are sometimes adapted or gradually fade—especially for those raising children abroad. Emotional connections to Venezuela are complex: many express longing and pride, yet also frustration, disillusionment, and a sense that return is no longer a realistic option.
These dynamics vary by location. Migrants in Peru, closer both culturally and geographically, tend to maintain stronger everyday ties to Venezuela, while those in Europe more often settle into a long-term outlook. The chapter also discusses the Venezuelan state’s “Plan Vuelta a la Patria,” a return program widely seen by migrants as symbolic rather than practical. Through these stories, the chapter sheds light on how people renegotiate belonging, identity, and memory in the aftermath of forced migration.
