MARACAY – Mariela Gómez’s Christmas this year was far from the one she envisioned just a year ago, as was the case for many Venezuelan immigrants. The abrupt return of Donald Trump to the White House in January shattered their American dream, forcing a reevaluation of their futures.

For the first time in eight years, Gómez found herself celebrating the holiday season in northern Venezuela. Despite her festive attire and efforts to create a joyful atmosphere with a cooked meal and a scooter for her son, the stark realities of unemployment and poverty loomed large for her and many other returning migrants.

“Our dinner was simple, not what we had hoped for, but at least we had food,” Gómez reflected on their meal, a lasagna-like dish enjoyed with her partner and in-laws. Traditional hallacas, a staple of the season made from stuffed corn dough, were beyond their reach due to their cost and the family’s lack of employment.

Gómez, along with her partner and two sons, returned to Maracay on October 27 after a harrowing experience at the U.S.-Mexico border. They had crossed into Texas, only to be quickly detained and deported to Mexico amid the Trump administration’s stringent immigration policies. From there, they embarked on the perilous journey back to Venezuela.

Their return journey through Central America was fraught with challenges. Unable to afford a boat passage from Panama to Colombia via the Caribbean, the family opted for a more dangerous route across the Pacific. They precariously traveled atop gasoline tanks on a cargo boat before transferring to a fast boat, eventually reaching a remote area in Colombia. They were stranded there for about two weeks until financial help allowed them to proceed to the Venezuelan border.

Gómez was among the more than 7.7 million Venezuelans who left their home country in the last decade, when its economy came undone as a result of a drop in oil prices, corruption and mismanagement. She lived in Colombia and Peru for years before setting her sights on the U.S. with hopes of building a new life.

Trump’s second term has dashed the hopes of many like Gómez.

As of September, more than 14,000 migrants, mostly from Venezuela, had returned to South America since Trump moved to limit migration to the U.S., according to figures from Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica. In addition, Venezuelans were steadily deported to their home country this year after President Nicolás Maduro, under pressure from the White House, did away with his long-standing policy of not accepting deportees from the U.S.

Immigrants arrived regularly at the airport outside the capital, Caracas, on flights operated by a U.S. government contractor or Venezuela’s state-owned airline. More than 13,000 immigrants returned this year on the chartered flights.

Gómez’s return to Venezuela also allowed her to see the now 20-year-old daughter she left behind when she fled the country’s complex crisis. They talked and drank beer during the holiday knowing it might be the last time they share a drink for a while — Gómez’s daughter will migrate to Brazil next month.

Gómez is hoping to make hallacas for New Year’s Eve and is also hoping for a job. But her prayers for next year are mostly for good health.

“I ask God for many things, first and foremost life and health, so we can continue enjoying our family,” she said.

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Garcia Cano reported from Caracas.