Venezuelan Coppell High School junior Sofia Rincon Bello had been scrolling on TikTok with her cousin in Houston for winter break when she heard the news.
On Jan. 3, the U.S military carried out a strike in Caracas, where Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife were arrested.
Venezuelans have faced economic instability, electoral fraud and corruption under Maduro’s presidency. More than 7.9 million people have left the country since 2014 in search of economic and physical security, including Ricon Bello, who moved to the U.S with her family when she was 4 years old.
“We were really happy because we’ve been waiting for this for so long,” Rincon Bello said. “The economy was really bad and was unsafe. It was what made us get a visa and come here.”
Maduro’s presidency of more than 10 years was plagued with corruption as he became the leader of Venezuela in 2013, and then declared victor in both of the highly disputed elections of 2018 and 2024. More than 50 countries have never recognized Maduro as the rightful leader of Venezuela, and his arrest followed years of narco-terrorism and drug trafficking accusations.
Despite this, the military operation has been highly controversial due to split opinions on the legality of U.S intervention and the overall future of the country following it.
“The fact that you’re able to kill the head of the dragon makes a big difference,” Venezuelan Coppell High School senior Luis Prado said. “They captured the dictator who obviously has the biggest strength and influence in the country, so being able to do that allows the government to slowly fall down and give its power back to the people.”
Spanish teacher Alicia Prado notes how Venezuela’s political and economic situation has been dangerous, even just in the past 26 years. A year after she left Venezuela in 2008, her father was kidnapped due to struggling to pay off debts on his farm.
“Fortunately, my dad was released and he was safe,” Prado said. “From that moment, the rest of my family started immigrating. My dad was able to sell the family business, not for a good price, but at least he was able to sell it where many other people were forced to give their land away.”
Despite these violations of human rights and ongoing threats to people’s safety, Maduro’s arrest remains controversial due to fears surrounding President Donald Trump’s motives regarding his military actions in Venezuela, and that its future may not go in the direction many residents hope for. The country maintains doubt surrounding Trump’s declaration of the country and its oil industry.
“If you talk to any Venezuelan, you will find a story of threats or traumas that they have experienced or people very close to them have experienced,” Prado said. “We have already lost so much of our own resources and the Venezuelan people have not seen any benefit from that. So my hope is that the United States, if that is what they plan to do, benefit the Venezuelan people.”
Prado’s family members continue to live with caution and uncertainty concerning their futures, though she is hopeful that Maduro’s arrest can be the beginning of a positive change for the people.
“Venezuela has had a beautiful past that was torn apart during this,” Prado said. “The people hope that they can have the opportunity to move forward now, so that others can see past the corruption and politics, and see what his arrest has the potential to do for its people.”
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