Joaquín Carbonara came to the U.S. for college with every intention of going back to his native Venezuela. But the country's turmoil forced him to leave his home.

"With Chavez coming to power, things changed, and the whole infrastructure was shaken from the ground. It basically divided families. Brother against brother," said Joaquín Carbonara, a SUNY Buffalo State mathematics professor.

And economic conditions there are getting worse. Many Venezuelans continue to flee the country, as they say President Nicolas Maduro is eroding democracy, creating a dictatorship. Those who have relocated to Western New York say they hope that President Donald Trump's latest travel ban on Venezuelan government officials and their families will send a clear message.

"One more condemnation of the government who is not really listening to what people want in Venezuela. The message is getting across and I think this is good that they're trying to do something about it," said Carbonara.

Venezuelans interviewed said while this travel ban sends the right message to the country's government, they worry it stigmatizes the country's average citizens. Another, who didn't wish to be identified, said he favored the travel ban because Venezuelan officials are spending the country's wealth abroad while people are dying in his home country.

"Every country is different. You just cannot lump all the countries in the same bag and call them a breeding place for terrorism," said Carbonara.

Monday, Venezuela's minister for foreign affairs spoke at the United Nations about the ban, Trump's UN speech and economic sanctions.

"This is an unfounded strategy to soften the public opinion and to try to make a case against Venezuela. We have to stop the madness and irrationality," said Jorge Arreaza.

Back in Western New York, Venezuelans worry that it's tough to balance punishing the government of the South American country while protecting innocent citizens. They worry the situation will only get worse before it gets better.