For the last decade, the Barco family of Perry has been running the downtown Salvadorian restaurant, El Buen Gusto. However, after losing an appeal with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, the restaurant will close as the family will need to relocate back to Guatemala.
Edith and Carlos Barco came to the U.S. in the 1990’s, settling first in California before finding a home in Perry. After working at the Tyson Foods plant, they eventually were able to open their restaurant, quickly gaining notoriety for their pupusas. While they have been attempting to gain citizenship for a long time, a decision didn’t come until last year. That decision was that they would need to go back to Guatemala for several years before being allowed to return. They appealed the decision, but this week they learned their appeal had been denied. Their youngest daughter, Marisa, was born in California, and as such is the only member of the family who is a U.S. Citizen and won’t have to leave.
El Buen Gusto will remain open until the family moves, and until then they will seek a new owner for the building. To help the Barcos with moving expenses, a GoFundMe page has been set up, which can be found by clicking the link below.