Are Venezuelans happy Maduro is gone? Diaspora celebrates 'day of freedom'

US President Donald Trump said Venezuelans were very happy with the capture of Maduro as they love the United States and Maduro's rule was dictatorial. The Venezuelan diaspora expressed their concern about the well-being of their family members in the country but at the same time asserted that it's not possible not to feel relief as Maduro is captured.

Nearly eight million Venezuelans have left the country under Maduro’s leadership which is a quarter of the nation’s population. Venezuelans began fleeing their country en masse when its economy collapsed in 2014. Colombia received the largest share of the diaspora with around 2.8 million Venezuelans, followed by 1.7 million in Peru.




Peruvian President Jose Jeri said on X that his government would facilitate the immediate return of Venezuelans, regardless of their immigration status.

US says it would run Venezuela, Vice president disagrees

Trump in his press conferencer which was watched live on the streets by the Venezuelan diaspora announced that US would run Venezuela without specifying whether this means US military would be there on the ground. Trump also said that Venezuelan vice president Delcy Rodriguez spoke to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and said she was doing all necessary things. But she later announced that Maduro is the only president of Venezuela and demanded the immediate release of Maduro and his wife.

What are the charges against Maduro, wife and son in the US?

Maduro was initially charged in 2020, but an updated indictment shared by US attorney general Pam Bondi on Saturday added his wife, Cilia Flores and his son Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra. They have been charged with conspiracy to import cocaine and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. The indictment alleges that Maduro “sits atop a corrupt, illegitimate government that, for decades, has leveraged government power to protect and promote illegal activity, including drug trafficking.” The drug trafficking, according to the indictment, has enriched Maudro’s family, including his wife and son, who is a member of Venezuela’s National Assembly.