Nicolás Maduro's downfall has stirred a mix of relief, fear and uncertainty among Venezuela’s vast diaspora, many of whom were forced into exile by repression and hardship and now face the question of whether they could ever return.

Multiple Venezuelan migrants and asylum-seekers said that the country is still far too dangerous and unstable.

Many of the 8 million Venezuelans scattered across the Americas received the news of their president's capture with caution

The Trump administration does not know the whereabouts of 137 Venezuelans it unlawfully deported last year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, adding that attempting to offer them due process would impact US foreign policy interests in the country.

Venezuelans in the U.S. and in the South American country who've wanted to speak out against the former leader are getting their chance — and the messages have gone viral.

In 2024, the most recent year for which we have data, an estimated 1 million immigrants from Venezuela lived in the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, these Venezuelans constitute about 2% of the total immigrant population.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a federal judge he is unable to locate the more than 100 Venezuelans the Trump administration sent to be imprisoned in El Salvador, arguing against further

In January 2026, the U.S. military struck Venezuela's capital and captured the country's president, Nicolás Maduro, under the orders of President Donald Trump. People on social media quickly began sharing what they claimed were images and videos of people in Venezuela responding to the attack.

Venezuelans living in Spain reacted to the news of Nicolas Maduro’s capture by U.S. forces with a mix of awe, joy and fear, gathering at rallies and watching the events unfold back home at breakneck speed.