Many Venezuelan immigrants shun Florida and turn to smaller cities in Utah, elsewhere

MIDVALE, Utah (AP) — Snow-capped mountains surround a valley dotted with wide, smooth roads, signaling to Venezuelan immigrants that the expanding suburbs south of Salt Lake City provide what Miami cannot. An exclusive Associated Press analysis of federal data from fall 2018 to summer 2025 reveals that these suburbs have become the preferred destination for many Venezuelan immigrants, who shun Miami and other established immigrant communities.

Reasons include better job prospects, more affordable housing, less traffic, and an enhanced quality of life.

Enrique Vera, a 32-year-old Venezuelan immigrant, crossed the border in Yuma, Arizona, in 2021 and settled in Miami with his mother. However, he found Miami unsatisfactory, mainly due to the low wages and unfavorable working conditions. After just two weeks in Miami, Vera and his mother relocated to Utah, where they found factory work and, later, started their own businesses – a bakery and a warehouse with two bakeries.

Venezuelan immigration to Utah has surged, with about 30,000 of the 1 million released into the U.S. in the analyzed period choosing Utah as their primary destination. This trend is not unique to Utah; Venezuelans have also migrated to smaller cities like Madison, Wisconsin; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Savannah, Georgia. However, Venezuelans in Utah are particularly affected by President Donald Trump's immigration policies, which have instilled fear and made them less visible since 2023.

Despite the growing Venezuelan population in Utah, there are few signs of Venezuelan identity – no flags, bumper stickers, or displays of patriotism are visible in the bustling commercial strips of Midvale. The Venezuelan community has blended in with the largely white population, with new housing, malls, office parks, and warehouses filling barren hillsides to meet demand for cheaper land.

In May 2025, Centro de Apoyo Familiar Church in Midvale opened its parking lot to Venezuelan food trucks. The church, led by evangelical pastor Alberto Salcedo, aimed to create a vibrant gathering spot for Venezuelan immigrants. At its peak, nearly 20 vendors and 5,000 visitors frequented the food trucks weekly. However, the number of vendors dwindled to five, and daily visitors had dropped to a few hundred.

Fear of deportation, coupled with the challenges of maintaining a business under Trump's administration, have contributed to the decline in Venezuelan businesses and community activities.