Antonio Molina: A Journey of Courage and New Beginnings

When Antonio Molina arrived at Will Rogers International Airport from Venezuela on September 11, 2024, he was greeted by the sound of alarms—a memorial for 9/11. It was a poignant moment, filling him with both sadness and gratitude for the opportunity to begin anew in a place he calls the "land of liberty."
 
Antonio’s story began in Venezuela, where he worked as a children’s counselor with a law background. His work centered around homeless children, a role that often put him at odds with those in power. Faced with making choices that favored the government over the well-being of children, Antonio made the brave decision to file an official complaint. But standing up for his values came with serious risks.
 
 “They would say things like, ‘You have no idea the people you are dealing with,’” Antonio recalls. He faced verbal threats, job insecurity, and insults about his sexual orientation. 
 
Eventually, he left Venezuela, knowing that staying could mean compromising his beliefs—or worse. Antonio fled first to Peru, where he entered a refugee program, but he still longed for the freedom he felt he could find in the U.S. 
 
“I think the U.S. is the land of liberty and will give me the freedom I never had in Venezuela,” he explains.
 
Now, with Catholic Charities’ support, Antonio has begun volunteering in the Immigration Legal Services department, putting his legal experience to work for others.
 
 “I have a background in law, so I can help use my knowledge and apply it to help Catholic Charities,” he says, adding that he’s excited to work as part of a team.
 
His goals are simple and heartfelt: to find a job that allows him to support himself, to stay close to his family, and to give back to the U.S. 
 
“I just want the same things everyone wants,” Antonio says, “and the opportunity to give back to the U.S. what it has given to me.”
 
When asked if we could take his photo, he replied with a grin, “Well yes, no problem. I’m a millennial, of course I want you to take my picture!”