Venezuelan Exiles Celebrate Maduro's Capture in Florida

Mon Jan 05 2026 04:03:08 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Venezuelan expatriates in Doral, Florida, rejoice as Nicolás Maduro's regime is overthrown, igniting hope for a new beginning in their homeland.

Supporters of freedom rallied in Doral, Florida, chanting for liberty and draping Venezuelan flags to celebrate the downfall of Nicolás Maduro's government. While they express excitement for change, they also face uncertainty about the future of Venezuela. Many attendees, who are part of the large Venezuelan diaspora, voiced their hopes for recovery from years of repression and hardship as the U.S. assumes temporary control over the country.

DORAL, Fla. — A wave of jubilation swept over the Venezuelan community in Doral, Florida, as revelers celebrated the recent overthrow of Nicolás Maduro's regime in Venezuela. Chants of liberty echoed through the streets while attendees draped themselves in the colors of the Venezuelan flag.

At the gathering outside El Arepazo, a local Venezuelan restaurant, many expressed a mix of excitement and anxiety about the future of their homeland. We’re like everybody — it’s a combination of feelings, of course, said Alejandra Arrieta, a Venezuelan expatriate since 1997. “There’s fears. There’s excitement. There’s so many years that we’ve been waiting for this. We all need the freedom.”

As the news broke that Maduro had been captured, the jubilant crowd gathered in Doral, a suburb of Miami with a significant Venezuelan population. Many had fled the country in search of better opportunities and were now looking for hope in the wake of a potentially historic change.

Trump has stated that the U.S. government would run Venezuela at least temporarily as part of a broader strategy that culminated in the recent military action. Venezuelan immigrants, such as Niurka Meléndez, expressed their hopes that this marked the beginning of recovery efforts for a country beleaguered by years of oppression.

Despite the celebrations, many in Doral remain acutely aware of the challenges that lie ahead for Venezuela. With eight million people escaping the crisis since 2014, the path to recovery will require international support and humanitarian aid.

Niurka Meléndez commented, Removing an authoritarian system responsible for these crimes creates the possibility, not a guarantee, but a possibility, for recovery. The crowd resonated with her hope that a future without repression could help rebuild the country on a foundation of justice and democracy.