May 12th 2024.
Jared Vallejo was faced with extreme danger and fear in his home country of Guatemala. Growing up in a village near the Colombian border, he was surrounded by dangerous individuals such as assassins, extortionists, drug lords, and gangsters. In particular, he lived in close proximity to members of Mara Salvatruchas, also known as MS-13, a violent criminal gang that has terrorized Central America for decades. Despite the danger, Jared's family seemed to have a strange immunity from the gang's harm, until Jared's sexuality was discovered.
Jared, who is now 36 years old and living in Birkenhead, Merseyside, recalls the terror he faced as a gay man in a village controlled by MS-13. He had to walk past them every day to get to school, enduring insults and eventually violent attacks. When the gang found out about his relationship with another man, they threatened to "remove the homosexuality" from him with bullets. In 2019, they even went as far as telling him to leave the village, claiming that he would "infect kids with homosexuality". The second time they made this threat, they attacked him and promised to kill him.
Fearing for his family's safety, Jared kept his sexuality a secret. He knew that if his parents were to confront the gang, they would likely end up killed. This constant fear and violence took a toll on Jared's mental and emotional well-being. He lived in constant fear of being killed for simply being who he was.
One night in 2021, Jared's worst fears came true. He heard his mother screaming outside and ran out with his brother to find a group of men attacking his unconscious father. Without hesitation, Jared threw himself between the attackers and his father, trying to protect him. In the chaos, he could also hear his mother being attacked nearby. He describes the attackers as "laughing" and feeling guilty that he couldn't do more to protect his family.
After this horrifying incident, the gang finally backed off and the family experienced a brief period of peace. However, the gang's connections to the corrupt police force meant that they would never face justice. This is a common reality in Guatemala, where police officers are often underpaid and must choose between corruption and death.
Jared was working a customer service job for a North American software company when he had a chance encounter with a shareholder who offered to help him leave the country. After being denied a visa to the US, Jared decided to try his luck in the UK. In October 2021, he arrived in Manchester after a long journey with multiple flights. He was one of 415 people that year who claimed asylum in the UK based on their sexual orientation.
Jared describes the experience as feeling like a movie, with everything happening so quickly and him trying to keep up. He left everything behind and didn't know what to expect in the UK. Upon arrival, he faced financial struggles and was forced to sleep on the streets for a few days. He eventually found a place to stay through the dating app Grindr, but was kicked out in the middle of the night after the man found out he was seeking asylum.
Thankfully, Jared was able to find support through Rainbow Migration, a charity that helps LGBTQ+ asylum seekers. With their help, he was able to apply for asylum and begin the long and challenging process. However, this also meant that he had to leave behind his loved ones, including his dog Max.
Applying for asylum was difficult for Jared, especially when he had to call the Home Office's asylum intake unit. He claims that the response he received was anything but welcoming, with the staff member questioning why he kept coming to the UK and mentioning the country's bad economy. Despite this, Jared recognizes that not all Home Office employees are bad and that there are some who genuinely want to help.
Throughout this entire ordeal, Jared's mother was his only source of comfort and support. However, each phone call ended with both of them in tears. Jared was alone during his first Christmas in the UK, feeling the weight of his situation and the guilt of leaving his family behind. As an asylum seeker, he was not allowed to work and only received a small amount of social welfare each day.
In December of last year, Jared was finally granted refugee status, allowing him to work and start rebuilding his life. He hopes to one day bring his loved ones to the UK and be reunited with them. Despite the challenges he has faced and continues to face, Jared remains grateful to be in a safe country where he can be himself without fear. He also recognizes the flaws within the system, but believes that there are good people working towards positive change. Jared's story serves as a reminder of the struggles and dangers faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in many parts of the world, and the importance of providing them with a safe haven.
Jared Vallejo's life in Guatemala was far from idyllic. His neighbors were not the friendly and welcoming sort. Instead, they were a group of dangerous criminals - assassins, extortionists, drug lords, and gangsters. They were a constant presence in the village of Boca del Monte, where Jared had lived his entire life, just 15 miles from the Colombian border.
Among these menacing figures were members of Mara Salvatruchas, or MS-13, a notorious and violent criminal gang that had terrorized Central America for years. Living in the same block as Jared's family, they seemed to have an unspoken rule - they would not harm their neighbors. But Jared was the exception. From a young age, he was targeted and harassed by the gang. It started with insults and name-calling, but as he grew older, the violence escalated. They would throw rocks at him and threaten to "remove the homosexuality" out of him with bullets when they found out he was gay.
In 2019, the threats turned into actions. The gang told Jared to leave as they believed he would "infect kids with homosexuality". When he refused, they attacked him and threatened to kill him. Fearing for his family's safety, Jared kept his sexuality a secret and endured the violence in silence.
But one night in 2021, everything changed. Jared heard his mother screaming on the streets, and when he and his brother went to investigate, they found a group of men attacking their father. Without hesitation, Jared threw himself between them to protect his unconscious father, while his mother was being attacked just a few meters away. The gang eventually backed off, but the damage was done. Jared's family had endured a traumatic and violent experience because of his sexuality.
The gang's ties to the corrupt police kept them from facing any consequences for their actions. It was a common occurrence in Guatemala, where the poorly paid officers had to choose between corruption or death. But for Jared, a chance encounter with a shareholder from a North American software company would change his fate. She offered to help him start a new life in the US, but his visa was denied due to his poor background and country. With a good grasp of English, Jared turned to the UK and arrived in Manchester in October 2021, becoming one of the 415 people who claimed asylum based on sexual orientation that year.
The journey to the UK was overwhelming and filled with uncertainty, but Jared was determined to start a new life. However, things were not easy for him. With little money, he struggled to find a stable place to stay and ended up sleeping on the streets and couch-surfing through the queer dating app, Grindr. But eventually, he found a kind and generous man from Poland who allowed him to stay with him and even cooked for him every day.
Jared's next challenge was applying for asylum. It was a difficult and confusing process, but he eventually found Rainbow Migration, a charity that supports LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, and they helped him with his application. However, when he called the Home Office's asylum intake unit, he was met with a hostile and unwelcoming response. The staffer questioned why he kept coming to the UK and even mentioned the country's economy and inflation. It was a shocking and hurtful experience for Jared, but he knew that not everyone at the Home Office was like that.
After months of waiting, Jared was finally granted refugee status in December 2021, but his struggles were far from over. As an asylum seeker, he was not allowed to work and could only receive a small amount of social welfare. But with his refugee status, he could finally apply for a work permit, and finding a job became his top priority. Despite all the challenges and hardships he faced, Jared remains grateful for the opportunity to start a new life in the UK and is determined to make the most of it.
Leaving his loved ones behind in Guatemala was one of the hardest things for Jared. Every phone call with his mother ended in tears, as they both longed for each other's presence. But Jared knows that he made the right decision to leave and that his safety and well-being are more important. As he continues to navigate his new life in the UK, Jared remains hopeful for the future and is determined to make a positive impact in his new community.
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