Venezuelans Worldwide Celebrate After U.S. Captures Nicolás Maduro
MIAMI, Fla. — Jubilant crowds of Venezuelans erupted in celebrations across the globe after President Donald Trump announced the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a daring U.S. military operation. From Miami to Santiago, Chile, to Lima, Peru, and Madrid, Spain, Venezuelan exiles and supporters took to the streets, waving national flags and chanting calls for liberty and freedom.
In Miami, Florida, the heart of the Venezuelan diaspora in the United States, revelers gathered outside Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach and in the city of Doral, a vibrant hub of Venezuelan culture. There, crowds draped themselves in the yellow, blue, and red of Venezuela’s flag, chanting “Liberty! Liberty! Liberty!” and expressing a mixture of excitement and cautious hope for the future. Alejandra Arrieta, who emigrated to the U.S. in 1997, described the moment as a culmination of years of suffering and anticipation. “There’s fears. There’s excitement,” she said. “There’s so many years that we’ve been waiting for this. Something had to happen in Venezuela. We all need the freedom.”
Similar scenes unfolded thousands of miles away in Santiago, Chile, where a young child held a sign proclaiming “Somos Libres” (“We Are Free”) during a rally. In Lima, Peru, Venezuelans gathered near the Venezuelan embassy at Miguel de Cervantes Park, celebrating the news of Maduro’s capture.
Maduro’s rule has been marked by economic collapse, hyperinflation, and a humanitarian crisis that forced approximately 8 million Venezuelans to flee the country since 2017, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). This mass exodus has created one of the largest displacement crises worldwide, with over 6.9 million Venezuelans now residing in Latin American and Caribbean countries.
The operation, announced by President Trump, involved U.S. military forces conducting a nighttime raid that resulted in Maduro and his wife being flown to the United States. Video footage showed Maduro boarding a helicopter for transfer to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, where he is expected to face drug and weapons charges.
Congressional leaders and political figures have weighed in on the capture. Representative Anna Paulina Luna highlighted the critical role of CIA intelligence in the operation, while Representative Dan Crenshaw praised the administration’s “bold action” against Maduro. The House Foreign Affairs Committee chair noted the careful deliberation behind the mission, emphasizing the risks and future implications for Venezuela.
The Trump administration’s goal is to ensure a smooth handover and subsequent legal proceedings. Maduro’s arraignment is scheduled for Monday, and the U.S. Department of Justice is expected to pursue charges related to narcotics trafficking and arms violations.
The capture has also prompted an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, requested by Venezuela and Colombia, reflecting the geopolitical tensions surrounding the event. The operation has drawn both praise and criticism internationally, with global leaders taking sides on the legality and consequences of the U.S. action.
For many Venezuelans in exile, the capture represents a symbolic turning point after years of hardship under Maduro’s regime. As the diaspora continues to advocate for democratic restoration and humanitarian relief, the world watches closely to see what the next chapter holds for Venezuela.
More details on the operation and its aftermath can be found through official updates from the U.S. Department of State and statements from the Department of Justice. The ongoing refugee crisis and international response are documented extensively by the UNHCR and the United Nations Security Council.
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