Celebrations and Concerns: U.S. Venezuelans React to Maduro's Capture

Maria Eugenia Torres Ramirez was in the midst of a dinner with her family in Los Angeles on Friday night when messages began pouring in. Rumors were spreading that the United States had launched an incursion in Venezuela to apprehend President Nicolás Maduro.

Having left Venezuela in 2021 at 38 years old, Torres Ramirez settled in California, where she is currently waiting for her asylum application to be processed. Her family is scattered globally across Colombia, Chile, and France. With the passing of her parents, Venezuela no longer holds any family for her.

However, the news of the strongman's arrest, the one responsible for her family's separation, came as a much-anticipated joy, bringing relatives from different continents together for a rare extended phone call.

"I've been anticipating this moment for ages from within Venezuela, and experiencing it from afar feels like watching a film," said Torres Ramirez, who once actively opposed Maduro. "There's an overwhelming sense of relief."

Venezuelan Expatriates Across America Rejoice

All over the United States, Venezuelans celebrated the military action that culminated in Maduro's arrest. The nation's economic downfall and growing political oppression have driven millions to emigrate since 2014, creating a significant displacement crisis.

Residents in Doral, South Florida, home to a large Venezuelan American populace, gathered on Saturday morning under their national flag, singing and commending the military action as an act of liberation. In contrast, in Los Angeles, diverse groups opposed to the arrest took to the streets. A rally south of downtown drew about 40 people, not primarily of Venezuelan origin, where speaker John Parker labeled the operation as an unlawful kidnapping.

Mixed Reactions and Concerns About U.S. Involvement

In a later protest at Pershing Square, hundreds braved the rain to voice their opposition to U.S. intervention. Despite the crowds, a lone woman cloaked in her country's flag was prevented from addressing protesters.

In Vernon, Paola Moleiro, 16, with her family at Mi Venezuela restaurant, ordered breakfast as she began to receive alarming messages about unrest in her homeland. Her connections in Venezuela relayed disturbing footage they recorded amid power outages, prompting a sleepless night for Paola, who had fled the country nine years prior.

Trump's Statements and Venezuelan Hopes

Early the next morning, President Trump confirmed the military's capture of Maduro. Elated, Paola called her aunt, anticipating a reunion that seemed closer than ever after years of separation.

Statements by President Trump during a news conference laid blame for drug trafficking and numerous American deaths at Maduro's feet, even making unsupportable claims about the Venezuelan state unleashing prisoners into the U.S.

While Trump announced plans for the U.S. to manage Venezuela and exploit its oil wealth for the Venezuelan people's benefit, some like Torres Ramirez felt uneasy about the implications of such oversight. Although pleased with Maduro's removal, she expressed concerns about a foreign power controlling her homeland's resources.

A Mixed Bag of Gratitude and Apprehension

Despite the prevailing sentiment of gratitude toward U.S. involvement, many Venezuelans remain cautious. Patricia Andrade, a long-time advocate for Venezuelan immigrants in Miami and a U.S. citizen, thanked the United States for its role but viewed any long-term presence in Venezuela with skepticism. Acknowledging the complexities, she reminisced with hope about reuniting with her family, a renewal of connection she had awaited for decades.

Undoubtedly, the capture has ignited discussions surrounding sovereignty, international intervention, and the future trajectory of Venezuela's political landscape.