From Fear to Freedom and Hope: A Venezuelan Student’s Journey
July 23, 2025
Pursuing a college education and the American dream, Rafael Escalante departed the embattled South American nation and made his way to New Jersey
Rafael Escalante escaped politically motivated persecution as a teenager in Venezuela to find his place – and a brighter future – at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.
In September 2019, he and his mother left the South American nation, where Escalante feared persecution for opposing what he describes as an autocratic government, and made their way to New Jersey. Returning in the fall as a senior majoring in political science and public policy at the School of Arts and Sciences and the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Escalante continues to advocate for democracy and human rights – both on and off campus.