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A group of 19 young Venezuelan baseball players, including two minors, sought asylum this Monday at a police station of the National Police in Barcelona, Spain, after refusing to return to their country amid a landscape of despair and hardship.
The team, named Team Guevara, was scheduled to return to Caracas that same day after several friendly matches in European territory, but after wandering without shelter in the Catalan capital, they made the joint decision to stay and seek refuge.
The episode, initially reported by the newspaper El País and confirmed by official sources, has highlighted the extent of the Venezuelan migration crisis, which now even affects sports delegations.
The young people presented themselves as a group at the police station in the Sarrià-Sant Gervasi district, where asylum requests are processed, and it was the team captain who took on the role of spokesperson.
A system that collapses in the face of an unstoppable reality
Under normal circumstances, each applicant must schedule an appointment through a slow and overwhelmed bureaucratic system. However, the immigration brigade agents decided to expedite the process and called them in immediately to start the interviews.
This Tuesday, formal statements began to be taken from the applicants, while the file will be sent to Madrid, where their immigration status will be decided.
The Government delegate in Catalonia, Carlos Prieto Gómez, confirmed on the social media platform X that the rights of all those involved are being ensured, especially those of the two minors, who have been referred to the child protection system of the Generalitat.
Humanitarian and legal assistance in progress
The Barcelona City Council, through the Service of Attention to Immigrants, Emigrants, and Refugees (SAIER), has guided the group on the steps to follow.
Adults have been referred to the Reception, Attention, and Referral Center (CREADE) for possible inclusion in the state program for asylum seekers. They were also offered legal and social advice, reported the agency EFE.
The situation highlights not only the internal crisis in Venezuela, but also the pressure faced by Spanish institutions to manage an increasing flow of migration that, in many cases, involves situations of extreme vulnerability.
Venezuelans in Spain: An Exodus That Doesn't Stop
Currently, more than 390,000 Venezuelans reside in Spain, according to official data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) collected by EFE.
This figure has multiplied tenfold in the last decade, and in just the first three quarters of 2024, over 65,000 people from Venezuela arrived in search of stability and opportunities.
Since the political, economic, and social crisis intensified under Nicolás Maduro's regime, more than 8 million Venezuelans have left the country, making it one of the largest diasporas in the world.
Sport is no longer the exception
The case of the Venezuelan baseball team that has decided to seek collective asylum sets an unusual but significant precedent. Even sports delegations are not safe from mass exodus. What was meant to be a competitive experience has ended in desperate flight.
Young people have chosen to stay in a country that at least offers them hope for a different future, away from the hunger, violence, and repression that still afflict Venezuela.
Cuban athletes have also chosen that option to escape the clutches of the communist regime in Havana. A decision that entails an eight-year penalty during which they cannot return to the island if they are part of an official delegation.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Asylum of the Venezuelan Baseball Team in Spain
Why did the Venezuelan baseball team seek asylum in Spain?
The Venezuelan baseball team, named Team Guevara, requested asylum in Spain due to the hopelessness and precariousness in their home country. The 19 young players, which included two minors, decided not to return to Venezuela after playing several friendly matches in Europe. Instead, they made the collective decision to seek refuge in Barcelona, where they presented themselves to the police to process their asylum request.
How is the asylum request for the team in Spain being handled?
The Spanish authorities have decided to expedite the asylum application process for the Venezuelan team. The immigration officers summoned the group immediately to begin interviews, and the file will be sent to Madrid to determine their immigration status. Furthermore, the rights of all those involved are being ensured, especially for the minors, who have been referred to the child protection system of the Generalitat.
What support is the Venezuelan baseball team receiving in Spain?
The Barcelona City Council is providing humanitarian and legal assistance to the Venezuelan baseball team. Through the Immigrants, Emigrants, and Refugees Attention Service (SAIER), they have been guided on the next steps to take. Adults have been referred to the Reception, Attention, and Referral Center (CREADE) for potential inclusion in the state program for asylum seekers, and they have been offered legal and social counseling.
What is the immigration situation of Venezuelans in Spain?
Currently, more than 390,000 Venezuelans reside in Spain. This number has multiplied by ten in the last decade due to the political, economic, and social crisis in Venezuela. In just the first three quarters of 2024, over 65,000 Venezuelans arrived in Spain in search of stability and opportunities, reflecting the magnitude of the Venezuelan diaspora.
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