Estelian professor Hermenegildo Villagra hopes that the US authorities will approve the humanitarian parole for his relatives so that they can leave a refuge where they are in Mexico and complete a difficult journey to that country that began last December.
Several days of kidnapping, the anguish of not knowing about them and the payment of 20 thousand dollars for a Mexican cartel to spare their lives have been part of what this family has had to live in search of a dream that would give them new opportunities. . “It has been more like a nightmare, but we do not lose hope,” says the teacher.
For more than a month and a half, the eight members of this Estelian family were kidnapped in Mexico. Professor Villagra had to spend whole nights awake, expecting the worst. The victims of this drama are his wife, two children, a daughter-in-law and his two children and two nephews of his daughter-in-law.
Related news: They ask for help to pay the ransom of an Estelí family in the hands of the Mexican cartel
The cartel that kidnapped them asked for $30,000 to release them or, as they told the professor: “they would not live.” With the support of the community, the teacher managed to raise $20,000 and negotiated the release of his relatives.
Awaiting the humanitarian parole
Those affected left for the United States on December 21 and ten days later they were kidnapped, exactly on the last day of the year. At the beginning of January, a collection day began among the Estelian population in order to raise the large sum of money. This Friday, February 17, the family was released.
After the kidnapping, their relatives concentrated on saving them from the hands of organized crime. In the midst of this concern, they also lost hope of completing the trip to the United States, but now, they say they hope to achieve it, applying for humanitarian parole. The eight Estelians, who remain to this day in a shelter in Mexico, have already applied for a temporary stay permit to enter the United States.
“All the requirements have already been met and the request has been processed. They tell us that we must wait until the 28th of this month for an answer. We are in God’s hands,” said Professor Villagra.
Thank you for the support received
The teacher and the pastor Gerardo González, both relatives of those released, stated that they felt “very grateful to God and to all the support of the Estelian population” that they contributed to the rescue of their relatives.
Some of the main collection efforts were carried out in Estelí, Somoto and San Lucas. They also publicized the need in local and national media.
«We are happy with their freedom, thanks to the Estelians also for the support. We hope that God continues to work in this family,” said González.
By United Voices
