US Edition‘We are not free yet’: Venezuelan exiles react a week after Maduro’s capture
Venezuelan exiles abroad express mixed feelings about Maduro’s capture, with many warning that chavismo still controls Venezuela and a long transition lies ahead, experts say.
- On January 3, 2026, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured by US forces and flown out of Venezuela, drawing immediate international attention and raising legal concerns.
- Faced with decades of repression, exiles said Maduro leads a criminal system tied to fraud and drug accusations, and years of stalled protests and international justice left few alternatives but US intervention.
- Many exiles said, `We have hope, but we don’t know what will happen next,` recalling crying, dancing and opening sangria while also warning of past disappointments and lingering uncertainty.
- Reports show heightened surveillance and arrests inside the country as Venezuelan authorities increased phone checks and random stops, criminalising some content and detaining protesters and critics.
- Cardenas Lopez believes a long transition will require international support, especially from Europe, as corruption is massive across the regime and opposition; some exiles say US interests in oil do not invalidate the capture's outcome.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Venezuela’s exiles in Chile caught between hope and uncertainty
Early last Saturday morning, Chile’s capital awoke to the sound of jubilant cheers echoing between the tower blocks.News had filtered through from Caracas of the U.S. operation to seize President Nicolás Maduro, and Chile’s sizable Venezuelan diaspora could barely contain its joy.More than 1,000 people gathered in Parque Almagro in Santiago to embrace one another, cheer, chant and weep.“I was in the park with them all day,” said Mary Montesinos,…
The capture of Nicolás Maduro by the United States, on January 3, meant for the Venezuelan community in Ecuador the arrival of a question that for years seemed distant: return to the land that saw them born or stay in the country that became their second home?
Venezuelan-American reflects on Maduro’s capture and Venezuela’s turbulent history
The recent capture of Venezuelas President Nicols Maduro has drawn global attention, sparking celebrations in some quarters and outrage in others as international debate swirls over its legality and impact.In Youngsville, Venezuelan-American Daniel Lugo, who immigrated to the United States as a child, said discussions about Venezuelas history have become more urgent since the dramatic turn of events.I moved here when I was nine years old, so I w…
Venezuela’s United Socialist Party (PSUV) has called its supporters to a “great national march” on Saturday, January 10, 2026, coinciding with the week’s fulfillment of the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Congresswoman Cilia Flores. PSUV has called for the “maximum mobilization” of citizens to demand the “prompt release” of both leaders, who were arrested by U.S. forces amid attacks in the capital and nearby states.
Maria Mercedes Larez and Orlando Martinez are from Anzoategui, Venezuela. The couple fled their home country in 2023 because of living conditions and the political situation. If they rejoice at the capture of President Nicolas Maduro by the United States, they remain worried about instability.
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