Give Hope to the Villarreal Family

The Current Crisis

1. Eye Surgery for Jhosneillismar

In March, Kemberlin’s 9-year-old daughter developed severe complications from strabismus, causing painful migraines and risking her vision. She needs corrective surgery in both eyes, plus medication, which comes to $1,600.

2. Funeral Costs

Almost simultaneously, Kemberlin’s father passed away. He had been helping care for her other children in Venezuela, leaving them without a caretaker and the family needing money for funeral arrangements.

Funds from this GoFundMe will cover:

The $1,600 needed for Jhosneillismar’s eye surgery and medication

Funeral and memorial costs for Kemberlin’s father

Necessities for their children

Ongoing support for Joel and Kemberlin in the U.S. while they finalize work permits and search for jobs.

I first met Joel and Kemberlin in January 2024, outside a Walgreens in Lincoln Park, Chicago. They had arrived from Venezuela just a month before, fleeing violent persecution and political turmoil. That day, they asked for a small donation to buy medical ointment for their daughter Salome’s rash. I helped them and shared my phone number, sensing they might need more assistance soon.

Over the following weeks, I discovered how challenging it can be for asylum seekers—especially those who don’t speak English—to locate and utilize resources like food banks, shelters, and community programs. While resources do exist, finding and navigating them is often complicated and time-consuming without language skills or a support network, especially when your life feels like a constant crisis.

Determined to help them move toward self-reliance, I did extensive research, consulted immigration attorneys, and ultimately helped them file a Defensive Asylum application (I-589) with the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) in the fall of 2024. Unfortunately, this process comes with a lengthy waiting period—if Joel and Kemberlin are granted work permits, it won't be until the Spring of 2025, and their immigration hearing isn’t scheduled until 2027. Until they’re legally able to work, they can’t earn a stable income.

During the filing process, I learned the full extent of their ordeal in Venezuela. They ran a wafer factory in Alto de Escuque, Trujillo but faced repeated attempts at extortion from local criminal and political groups. When they refused to comply, armed men on motorbikes would attack their home with Molotov cocktails and gunfire, wounding Joel in the leg. With their lives under constant threat, they made the heart-wrenching decision to leave their older children with family and attempt a multi-year trek to the U.S. border. Their youngest daughter, Salome, was born along the way in Colombia.

Upon reaching Chicago, they had no legal means to earn money. They ended up in a shared basement apartment with multiple other asylum-seeking families—each paying $600 in rent despite deplorable conditions like pests, nonfunctional appliances, and frequent conflicts. Joel took whatever under-the-table work he could find, often getting underpaid or not paid at all. Meanwhile, Kemberlin sold small goods on the street while caring for Salome. The local food banks sometimes ran out of supplies by the time they got there, so I often pitched in with groceries, clothing, and partial rent payments. Over the course of 2024, I contributed $1,600 of my own funds to their mission.

On January 31st, everything changed when Pastor Beth at Lincoln Park Presbyterian helped secure free housing for the Villarreals. Finally, they found a safe space where they could catch their breath and continue working toward legal status.

We’re close to a major turning point. Once Joel and Kemberlin can legally work, they’ll be able to support themselves and their children. But until that point, every day is a struggle just to meet basic needs. By helping them now, you’re bridging a critical gap and ensuring they can address urgent medical and funeral expenses without losing all the progress they’ve fought so hard to achieve.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for taking the time to learn about the Villarreals. Your donation—no matter how large or small—makes a real difference. If you’re unable to donate, please consider sharing this fundraiser with others. Together, we can help a hardworking, determined family find stability and hope in the face of immense challenges.