Are you a money launderer, a deposed leader trailed by corruption allegations?
Turns out, there’s a home for you here in Miami — even under Trump’s hardened immigration policies — so long as you can afford to ‘game the system.’ (THREAD)
Turns out, there’s a home for you here in Miami — even under Trump’s hardened immigration policies — so long as you can afford to ‘game the system.’ (THREAD)
Served by lawyers, bankers and real estate agents who help them obtain visas, green cards and asylum, these expats can overcome the rules that crush the hopes of everyday immigrants. miamiherald.com/news/local/imm…
Manuel Antonio Baldizón Méndez is a textbook kleptocrat.
The former Guatemalan senator seemed poised for the presidency in 2015 — despite rumors that drug rings funded his rise.
The former Guatemalan senator seemed poised for the presidency in 2015 — despite rumors that drug rings funded his rise.
He even met with then-Indiana Gov. Mike Pence that year during a pre-election tour of the U.S.
Baldizón’s son Jorge was also an intern for Pence.
Baldizón’s son Jorge was also an intern for Pence.
But back home, things took a turn for Baldizón: A U.N.-backed commission was in the process of uncovering dozens of schemes by Guatemala’s political leaders to siphon cash from the public treasury.
Baldizón lost the election amid the political fallout — his running mate was implicated in a $100 million scheme and later convicted — but a path out of Guatemala awaited.
And it ran through South Florida, where he had been snatching up properties.
And it ran through South Florida, where he had been snatching up properties.
He even remained an A-lister in U.S. Republican circles.
His personal Facebook page displays photos of Baldizón at a Trump-Pence inaugural ball in January 2017, where he hung out with Pence and the new VP’s brothers.
His personal Facebook page displays photos of Baldizón at a Trump-Pence inaugural ball in January 2017, where he hung out with Pence and the new VP’s brothers.
Carlos Polit Faggoni had served in many government posts in Ecuador, becoming controller once again in 2017.
That same year, he was accused of taking $10.1 million in bribes from construction giant Odebrecht SA.
He relocated to Miami.
That same year, he was accused of taking $10.1 million in bribes from construction giant Odebrecht SA.
He relocated to Miami.
Ecuador tried him in absentia and he was sentenced in June 2018.
But Polit has been permitted to stay — even as the State Department has canceled more than 300 visas issued to other Ecuadorians. That number was provided by Michael Fitzpatrick, the U.S. ambassador to Ecuador.
But Polit has been permitted to stay — even as the State Department has canceled more than 300 visas issued to other Ecuadorians. That number was provided by Michael Fitzpatrick, the U.S. ambassador to Ecuador.
There’s Peruvian insurance millionaire Gustavo Salazar, who was accused of facilitating and laundering a bribe to a governor in exchange for a highway project that was over budget by $100 million.
A Peruvian judge ordered him extradited the following year.
A Peruvian judge ordered him extradited the following year.
But Salazar has stayed put.
An online video shows him dancing at his daughter’s lavish December wedding in Miami.
An online video shows him dancing at his daughter’s lavish December wedding in Miami.
Also living in luxury in Miami Beach: the Oberto brothers, who are being investigated in connection with the theft of more than $4.5 billion from the Venezuelan government. miamiherald.com/news/local/imm…
Meanwhile, immigrants like Julio Rodríguez are living here in limbo, barely making ends meet and facing an uncertain future.
Rodríguez is an asylum seeker. In 2016, he left behind a 20-year entertainment career in Colombia after receiving death threats. miamiherald.com/news/local/imm…
Rodríguez is an asylum seeker. In 2016, he left behind a 20-year entertainment career in Colombia after receiving death threats. miamiherald.com/news/local/imm…
He scrambled to apply for tourist visas — long since expired — and fled to the United States.
But a week after the Rodríguez family landed at MIA, Donald Trump was elected president.
But a week after the Rodríguez family landed at MIA, Donald Trump was elected president.
Ever since, it’s been one policy change after another, all aimed at jacking up fees and chipping away at protections for asylum seekers.
Still, Rodríguez has persisted.
“I didn’t know if we’d stay in the United States. But we couldn’t stay in Colombia.”
Still, Rodríguez has persisted.
“I didn’t know if we’d stay in the United States. But we couldn’t stay in Colombia.”
He made his bid for asylum a year later, in February 2017.
He’s still waiting.
He’s still waiting.
While Latin American elites and kleptocrats find refuge in Miami, Trump’s crackdown on immigration continues: Until the pandemic led to some releases, roughly 50,000 undocumented immigrants were confined in some form of detention by ICE. miamiherald.com/news/local/imm…
How can the immigration system vary so much for different people? With our interactive, you simply give us a name for your fictitious character and we'll walk you through the immigration process. gamingthesystem.journalismgames.com
An investigation by @MiamiHerald and @elNuevoHerald, with Mexico’s @AristeguiOnline and journalists in Colombia, documents how rich foreign nationals stiff-arm U.S. authorities while evading punishment back home. miamiherald.com/news/local/imm…
.@RominaAdi and @MoniqueOMadan explore South Florida’s tale of two immigration systems: How thousands of immigrants are languishing in detention centers, families torn apart, while some of Latin America’s richest — and in some cases most corrupt — are living comfortably in Miami.
@RominaAdi @MoniqueOMadan If you value journalism like this, consider subscribing to @MiamiHerald.
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