'We Just Yearn for Normalcy': The Future for Venezuelans in Exile After Maduro

Andrea Paola Hernández is dispersed across continents, with siblings settled in Ecuador and London, and cousins living in Colombia, Chile, Argentina, and the U.S. This scattering occurred as they sought to escape the economic deprivation and political turmoil in Venezuela. Hernández, a vociferous defender of human rights and opponent of Nicolás Maduro's authoritarian regime, ultimately made the difficult decision to leave as well.

Since 2022, Mexico City has been her new home, where she manages with informal jobs due to her undocumented status. Her thoughts often drift to the hope of reuniting with her dispersed family and cherished friends. In her own words, 'We just yearn for our normal lives again.'

The Legacy of Departure

Under Maduro's 13-year tenure, over eight million Venezuelans fled—an unprecedented migration in modern times. This exodus severed family bonds and influenced the socio-cultural dynamics of nations that received Venezuelan migrants.

The unexpected U.S. military action leading to Maduro's capture has stirred mixed sentiments among Venezuelan exiles—blending relief with a sense of uncertainty.

From Europe to the Americas, those who left ponder if they can finally return home and what awaits them should they decide to go back.

A Notion of Justice

Initially distressed by the U.S. operation—criticized as contrary to international norms—Hernández nevertheless views Maduro's arrest as a glimmer of justice in response to longstanding injustices. Yet, apprehension about the future persists.

While President Trump has emphasized Venezuela’s immense oil potential, there has been scant mention of democracy’s restoration. With Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s deputy, now acting as interim leader, Hernández harbors mistrust, seeing her as complicit in Venezuela’s plight.

For Hernández, the regime is a source of personal anguish—from losing an aunt during the pandemic due to power shortages hindering medical treatments to struggling daily with hunger. Anticipating return, she insists on elections first, fearing for her safety and freedom otherwise.

A Fragmented Identity

The diaspora grapples with clashing feelings. Damián Suárez, an artist residing in Mexico after leaving Venezuela for Chile in 2011, finds himself unexpectedly supportive of Trump’s actions, despite his usual ideological opposition.

Suárez metaphorically describes migrants as uprooted plants, struggling with a 'spiritual void' from the loss of both homeland and the community that gave their lives purpose. Despite Maduro's current incarceration, Suárez, equipped with a Mexican passport and family now settled in Mexico City, has no intention of returning.

Settling into New Realities

Tomás Paez, a sociologist now based in Spain, notes that a minority of expatriates express a desire to return to Venezuela permanently. Many have deeply integrated into their adoptive societies, forming new lives.

For Paez, who left Venezuela amidst surging inflation and crime, ties to grandchildren in Spain weigh against a permanent return. He acknowledges migration’s transformative effect, forming a new Venezuelan 'geography' expanded by the diaspora.

The migration stories vary—some left through legal channels; others endured perilous journeys. Legal barriers in Latin America coupled with challenges in passport renewal from abroad have compounded the difficulties faced by migrants.

Exhaustion in Politics

Venezuelan communities have emerged throughout the Americas, like the one in Tuxtla Gutiérrez near Mexico's border. Richard Osorio, for instance, found himself there following his husband’s deportation from the U.S. They now sustain themselves without documentation, earning through local Venezuelan eateries.

The day of Maduro's capture saw spontaneous celebrations, but Osorio, fatigued by years of political turmoil, felt detached from the victory.

He critically compares Trump and Maduro, highlighting their disregard for human rights. Despite being wrapped in political turmoil, Osorio sees no viable future in returning to Venezuela unless there is economic stability and protective rights for the LGBTQ+ community.

Envisioning a New Start

Hernández shares that many exiles are too scarred by their experiences to envision a future back home, though she herself harbors dreams of a reimagined Venezuela. Envisaging a nation som teis vibrant and democratic, she hopes for a diaspora-driven renewal rooted in skills gained abroad.

Her inquiry—when will this dream materialize—echoes the longing for a stable and prosperous homeland.