CNN
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When Santa Claus arrived at migrant shelter in El Paso, Texas, to carry presents for the youngsters, one migrant requested for simply a photo with him.
The photo Geovanny Caripaz, 39, took was rapidly despatched via WhatsApp to his 7-year-old son in Venezuela.
“I told him Santa is in the US, so his present may be delayed getting to Venezuela,” Caripaz mentioned.
His son, Carlos Santiago Caripaz, desperately wished a bike for Christmas, in keeping with his father, who left Venezuela three months in the past.
Responding in a voice memo, the kid instructed his father he liked the image and requested if it was actually Santa who was with him.
Caripaz, breaking down, instructed CNN the bike will come after he finds work in the United States.
“I told him it would come on Three Kings Day or at some point in January,” he mentioned.
Caripaz is planning on touring to Dallas, the place he has household and mates. But for now, he has been sleeping on the streets close to the Sacred Heart Church migrant shelter, which is at present over capability.
El Paso’s temperatures have turned frigid due to the winter storm sweeping throughout the US, and amid a latest surge in migrant arrivals, many like Caripaz have struggled to seek out shelter.
The metropolis declared a state of emergency final weekend over hundreds of migrants dwelling in unsafe situations, as a Trump-era border coverage conserving migrants out of the United States stays in flux amid courtroom proceedings.
Many of the migrants who’re coming into El Paso usually are not seeking to keep, according to city officials, however the native infrastructure is struggling to help the crowds pouring in and trickling out.
The Sacred Heart Church shelter mentioned it’s prioritizing girls and kids in the course of the chilly entrance, and has been open to all migrants, no matter their immigration standing. Hundreds of individuals proceed to attend exterior the church.
Many migrants instructed CNN sleeping in 20-degree temperature has been very tough, however it’s being away from their households that’s particularly onerous on Christmas.
“I do it for my children,” mentioned Caripaz. “I came to work, I have faith…[My son] wants his bike and I told him Santa can’t bring it yet, but he will bring it in January.”