This post is also available in:
Español 
Nederlands
Imagine being five years old and leaving behind everything you know: your street in La Victoria, the smell of your grandmother’s lunch, the shouts of children playing on block 13 of Sáenz Peña. Then imagine landing in Miami and getting into a car heading to the Bronx. That’s how the story of Víctor Rosas Salcedo began—a Peruvian boy who grew up between two worlds but never fully felt part of either.
At 26, Víctor was deported to Peru, a country he barely recognized as his own. Without language, money, or anything but a backpack and a hair clipper, he faced a hostile reality. But amid adversity, he found something unshakable: his faith and his desire to rebuild himself.
Today, Víctor lives in Amsterdam, where he works as a barber at one of the city’s most iconic barbershops. His story is not just about personal resilience but also about how a Peruvian can find hope even in the darkest moments.
This is the life of Víctor Rosas Salcedo: from Lima to the Bronx, from a prison cell in Florida to the Peruvian Andes, and finally, to a barbershop in the heart of Amsterdam. A story that shows that when you have purpose, it’s always possible to start over.
From Lima to the Bronx: The Boy Who Left Peru Without Knowing He Would Return
Víctor was born in Lima, Peru, in May 1978. His early years were spent in La Victoria, on block 13 of Sáenz Peña, where he grew up surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the streets and the warmth of a Peruvian home. But at five years old, his life changed dramatically when his family decided to emigrate to the United States in search of better opportunities.
The Bronx of the 1980s wasn’t an easy place for a Latino child. Víctor barely spoke English, but he insisted on integrating quickly, rejecting ESL classes to attend regular classes, which exposed him to difficult situations, like being stabbed in the legs with a pencil by other kids. Those moments left physical and emotional scars but also forged his character. Despite being far from Peru, memories of his family and Peruvian food kept him connected to his roots. In 1992, his parents moved to Hialeah, Florida, seeking better work opportunities, but this didn’t improve his life. Between 1990 and 1996, Víctor was frequently detained by the police without reason, beaten, photographed on the street, and released without charges—a practice that, though common, was always traumatic.
At 18, things got worse. He began to be arrested for no reason, with authorities finding any excuse to detain him for a day or two before releasing him without charges. In 2003, after being wrongfully arrested for marijuana possession at a nightclub, Víctor spent three years in prison before being deported to Peru. During that time, he found God, who became his refuge amid adversity and gave him the strength to face the challenges ahead.
“Welcome to Peru”: The Harsh Reality of Forced Return
In 1997, Víctor graduated from high school and started working at Target warehouses due to the high cost of college. In 2000, he tried to advance his education at Broward County Community College but dropped out in 2002 to pursue a two-year degree as a Medical Assistant at Keiser College. During this time, he accumulated fines for minor offenses like drinking in public and trespassing, which increased his instability.
In 2003, everything changed when he was arrested at a club for possessing seven grams of marijuana. Though the charges were initially dropped, he was falsely accused of intent to distribute drugs, leading to an arrest warrant. With no legal resources or support, Víctor accepted 18 months of probation to avoid jail. However, driving with a suspended license violated his probation, and he was sentenced to six months in prison. Instead of being released, he spent three years behind bars before being deported to Peru in 2014. During that time, he refused to sign his deportation papers, but the Peruvian consulate in Miami signed them without offering any support. “The little love I had for my country disappeared,” he says. But in prison, he found something invaluable: God.
When Victor arrived in Lima, he barely spoke Spanish and didn’t know his Peruvian family. At the airport, an immigration officer stopped him and asked for money before letting him through. “Welcome to Peru,” the officer said after taking the few bills Victor had with him. It was a cruel welcome, but also the beginning of a chapter filled with uncertainty. After passing through immigration, his aunts Miriam and Elena recognized him and took him to his grandmother’s house in Los Olivos. Still, the disconnection was clear. His family felt like strangers, and society treated him like a foreigner. “It was like being in a prison, but with the doors open,” he reflects. With no job and no friends, Victor struggled to find stability. He landed a job at a call center thanks to his native English, but soon those companies began hiring immigrants for lower wages, leaving him once again without an income.
A Divided Heart: Rediscovering Love for Peru
For many years, Victor felt disconnected from his own land, as if his Peruvian identity had slowly faded with distance. He saw himself more as a foreigner than as part of something greater. But one day, everything changed. As he walked down Av. Arequipa in Lima, searching for work and with his mind full of worries, he stopped when he saw a crowd gathered excitedly in front of a giant screen broadcasting a decisive match of the Peruvian national football team. Surrounded by cheers, hugs, and shared joy, he suddenly found himself crying—overwhelmed by an emotion he hadn’t felt in years: for the first time in a long while, he didn’t feel alone. “It was the first time no one asked me if I was Peruvian,” he recalls tenderly.
That moment, simple on the surface but profound in the soul, touched a silent wound and began to heal it. It was as if something dormant inside Victor finally awoke—an emotion that reconnected him with his roots, his people, his culture, and his history. Although he had always known he was Peruvian, it was in that precise instant that he truly felt it—as a steady heartbeat in his chest, a warmth that wrapped around him completely and reminded him that he had always belonged. His love for his country—perhaps quietly waiting all along—began to bloom again with a radiant strength, giving meaning and a sense of home to his identity.
“Leave it in God’s hands and move on. God knows your heart and the kind of man you are.” – Victor Rosas
Between Scissors and Hope: How Barbering Became His Salvation
Without mastery of Spanish and without job opportunities to reinvent himself, Víctor turned to something he had always known how to do: cut hair. Though he was never a professional barber, he knew how to handle scissors and clippers well enough to offer basic services in Lima. During this time, he still hoped to reunite with his family in the U.S., and his mother hired a lawyer to try to bring him back. However, on November 15, 2017, he received a devastating email: “There’s nothing more I can do for you regarding your case.” That day marked a turning point. Determined to take control of his life, Víctor asked people where he could find cold, snow, and rain—elements that reminded him of his happy years in New York. They told him: “Huaraz.” Without hesitation, he boarded a bus to that city and began traveling with his backpack, leaving behind his plans to return to the U.S.
With less than 50 soles (about €20) in his pocket and his barber tools, he arrived in Huaraz in search of new opportunities and, above all, peace. There, he found a place where he could start over. Without money, he began volunteering at hostels in exchange for lodging and food. For four hours a day, he cleaned or helped at the reception, and in his free time, he offered haircuts to those in need. “Feeling like my life was back in my hands was incredible,” he says. Soon, his talent caught the attention of locals and tourists, and he began working at small barbershops in the city.
Barbering not only gave him an income, but also a deep connection with people. In Huaraz, people accepted him as one of their own, something he never felt in Lima, where he was always treated as a foreigner. “Huaraz showed me a different side of Peru,” he reflects. There, no one questioned his Peruvian identity or judged him for his past. For the first time in years, Victor felt like he belonged somewhere. The barbershop became his emotional and spiritual salvation, allowing him to reconnect with his country and with himself. While cutting hair, Victor found peace, purpose, and a new way of looking at life.
Crossing Borders: From South America to Europe in Search of a New Beginning
After years of struggling to find his place in Peru, Victor Rosas Salcedo made a bold decision: to cross the ocean to Europe in search of a new opportunity. In 2020, with some money saved and the help of his mother, Victor planned his trip from Lima. However, he faced an unexpected challenge: the cost of the direct flight to Madrid was prohibitive ($1,500). So, he decided to return to Bogotá, Colombia, where tickets to Europe were more affordable ($650).
But fate had other plans. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed his travel plans, but what could have been a tragedy turned out to be a blessing in disguise. During his time in Colombia, Victor experienced a human warmth he will never forget. The people welcomed him as if he were part of their family, helping him find work and a place to live. “Colombia accepted me as one of them,” he says. This period strengthened his faith in humanity and reminded him that not everyone is indifferent to the suffering of others.
Finally, when travel restrictions were lifted, Victor took a flight to Madrid. But his final destination would not be Spain. During a brief visit to Paris, he met a girl in a hostel who would change the course of his life. She told him about Amsterdam, where she lived and worked, and assured him it would be an ideal place for someone like him. Inspired by her advice, Victor boarded the bus with her to Amsterdam. That decision would mark the beginning of a new phase filled with hope and possibilities.
Amsterdam: The city that opened its doors to him when he needed it most
Upon arriving in Amsterdam, Victor knew he had to start from scratch once again, something that had become familiar to him. He started working in small barbershops, but soon faced another obstacle: the owner of the barbershop where he worked unexpectedly closed the business. Not giving up, Victor tirelessly scoured the city streets in search of new opportunities, like any good Peruvian. It was then that he discovered Betty B Tattoo + Barbershop, a place that immediately seemed special and connected to his creative spirit. He decided to leave his number, trusting in that strong instant connection, not knowing when, but certainly certain, he would receive a response.
Victor’s strength and perseverance are truly inspiring. He kept going where others might have stopped. With his talent and warm smile, he’s sure to go far. – Frits Voet
Two months later, his perseverance paid off. Elena & Frits Voet, the owners of Betty B Tattoo + Barbershop, called him in for an interview and shortly after, Victor joined the team. Since then, he has found a home in this vibrant barbershop, where he works alongside talented tattoo artists and piercing specialists. His skill as a barber, combined with his positive attitude and kindness, quickly made him stand out among the clients. Victor is warm and spontaneous with everyone—each haircut is an opportunity to share his story and connect deeply with people. “Here, I’ve found a place where I truly belong,” Victor says with gratitude.
Despite everything he has built far from home, Victor’s deepest longing remains to embrace his family once again. It doesn’t matter whether it’s in Peru or the United States; his greatest dream is to be together again, to look into the eyes of his mamita Nancy, his father Eduardo, his sister Nancy, and his brother Jonathan, and say with all his heart: “I love you—I’ve missed you every single day.” More than words, he dreams of those simple yet love-filled moments: sitting around the table, sharing a freshly made ceviche, a delicious arroz con pollo, and toasting with an ice-cold Inca Kola while laughter and memories fill the air. For him, that is pure happiness.
Meanwhile, Amsterdam has offered him a new beginning. In its streets and in his daily routine, Victor has been weaving a new life, never forgetting where he comes from. Every step he takes carries the essence of his beloved Peru, like a constant whisper that accompanies and strengthens him.
“This will be my barber from now on! Simply perfect and very good! The place is very comfortable.” – Review by Roy on April 5, 2025
Faith, Family, and the Future: Victor’s Message for Those Looking for a Fresh Start
Victor’s story is much more than a series of difficult events and personal triumphs; it is a living testament to how adversity can be transformed into opportunity when you have faith and determination. For those facing similar challenges, his message is clear: “Believe in God. Jesus is my savior and He is yours too. Fear God and fear no man.”
If you find yourself in the Netherlands, don’t hesitate to visit Victor at Betty B Tattoo + Barbershop, located at Rokin 124, 1012LC, Amsterdam. There you can meet him in person, get a haircut done with dedication and passion, or even get a tattoo from his amazing artists.
What did you think of Victor’s story? His journey is filled with lessons of resilience, faith, and overcoming challenges that can inspire us all. If you relate to his experience or know someone who has gone through something similar, we’d love to read your story or thoughts in the comments.
Also, if you’d like to stay up-to-date with more stories like this, subscribe to our website peruanos.nl, where we share relevant content for our Peruvian community in the Netherlands and around the world. Your opinion and participation are important to us. We look forward to hearing your comments and see you in our next post!
