The Nevada Independent: ‘We have a light now’: Maduro capture brings relief, uncertainty for Venezuelans in Vegas

Despite initial celebration among Venezuelans, the U.S. operation that ousted Maduro has sparked divided reactions. In Nevada and beyond, many have lauded the dictator’s capture while rebuking President Donald Trump’s failure to secure congressional approval for the operation. Earlier this week, Trump also announced he plans to assume control of Venezuela’s oil sales indefinitely, raising questions about his motivations in the region. 

Others fret that Maduro’s allies will stick around, especially given that Trump appointed Maduro’s vice president and ally, Delcy Rodríguez, as interim president. 

Right after he heard the news of Maduro’s capture, Pineda called his brother who lives in Caracas. His brother described an “apparent calm” coming over the city, Pineda said. Still an unease lingers as Maduro’s allies remain in power. People remain afraid to go out onto the streets, storefronts are shuttered, and people are afraid to speak their minds. 

“The people who critique and poorly analyze — especially if you don’t live there — you don’t know what’s going on with those people — it’s a huge relief,” Pineda said. 

Nevada Dems wanted Maduro gone, but not like this

Rep. Susie Lee’s (D-NV) reaction to the operation encapsulated how Democrats in Nevada’s congressional delegation feel: “I believe that Maduro should have gone,” she said, “but I wish there would have been more than a concept of a plan for what we do next.”

Speaking to The Nevada Independent, the Democrats were particularly pointed in their criticism of Trump’s decision not to tell them about the operation ahead of time. 

On Thursday, the Senate voted to advance a war powers resolution that would require the president to seek approval from Congress before taking further military action in Venezuela. Lee said she thinks a few Republican votes might help the measure pass the House, however, Trump would likely veto it.

Nevada Democrats are also skeptical of Trump’s decision to recognize Rodríguez as the new head of Venezuela, where enforcer Diosdado Cabello Rondón remains interior minister. 

What’s next?

Nevada Democrats promised to do what they can to hold the president accountable. Lee, who serves on the House Appropriations Committee’s Defense Subcommittee, said she will try to do so through the appropriations bill that lawmakers hope to pass this month.

“To the extent we can put some guardrails in there to reinstate Congress’ power of the purse with respect to funding any potential future military action, we’ll try to do that, along with oversight,” she said. 

She added that she will press the administration to find out exactly how much the operation cost. 

“I’d guess there’s ‘B’ on the front end,” Lee said. 

The precarity is even more pressing for residents who hail from Venezuela after the Trump administration eliminated Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans living in America last year. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended that decision over the weekend, saying that all of the people who were in the country under the protected status can apply for refugee status. 

All four women in the congressional delegation signed onto a brief last year urging a federal court to uphold the Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans. Lee said this week that she is optimistic some Republicans might vote to restore it.

“A lot of the Florida representatives have a lot of Venezuelans in their communities, and I don’t think any of them want to see these Venezuelans have to go back to Venezuela until the government has been stabilized and democracy is restored,” Lee said. 

Maduro has pleaded “not guilty” on U.S. drug trafficking charges. His next court date is set for March 17. 

Pineda is optimistic the American government will help Venezuelans in the U.S. given the recent intervention. Still, some uncertainty lingers for Pineda and Caldera on when, or whether, Maduro’s allies will be removed.