The political situation in Venezuela has led to Venezuelans abroad to feel an increasing sense of concern and fear. The situation in their country of origin only worsens with time. The political landscape, marked by tensions between Nicolás Maduro’s regime and the Trump administration, has left many feeling like pawns in a larger geopolitical game. Adelys Ferro is an advocacy and communications officer at a non-governmental organization that defends the rights of Venezuelan immigrants. She documents the anguish and hopelessness her compatriots are forced to suffer.
Today, things are no better under Maduro, with the economy collapsing and human rights violations escalating at an unprecedented rate. This backdrop has stoked fears among Venezuelans abroad, fears that their plight is being used as a political tool. Ferro is pretty clear that the U.S. government’s actions are not a good-faith effort to combat the drug trafficking that accompanies Maduro. Instead, he understands them to be parts of a larger political playbook.
The Impact of U.S.-Venezuela Relations
The relationship between the United States and Venezuela has become severely testy, particularly since Donald Trump took over the U.S. presidency. In 2019, Trump announced a $15 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest, labeling him “one of the world’s largest drug traffickers” and a threat to U.S. national security. This characterization has only deepened the confusion for Venezuelans who have settled abroad. Because the stakes of U.S. policy may be personal for them—their families remain in Venezuela.
It leaves Venezuelans understandably worried about the possible motives driving U.S. action. An anonymous Venezuelan man expressed confusion over U.S. intentions, stating, “We don’t know what the United States wants to do or what its intention is.” The uncertainty around U.S. plans has only increased concerns about the prospect of more violence.
Yahaira Treviño, a Venezuelan currently residing in Madrid with her four children, shared her beliefs regarding the underlying motivations for U.S. involvement. “He’s after the minerals in Venezuela, the oil, all the natural resources there are,” she said, highlighting concerns that foreign interests may overshadow humanitarian considerations.
Personal Stories of Displacement
The current humanitarian emergency has pushed millions of Venezuelans to abandon their country to find safety and stability. Andrés Roa, who had spent two decades practicing in Venezuela. He found that over time, things were getting worse, and so he made the difficult decision to leave. He remarked on the prevailing uncertainty, saying, “I know there’s talk of invading Venezuela, but I don’t see it happening that way.”
Perla, a fellow Venezuelan expatriate, is doubtful there will be any difference made anytime soon while the Chavistas are in power. “I don’t think anything will change. As long as the military is there, they will support the Venezuelan government,” she stated. Her view is representative of a growing frustration among international abductees who have escaped the country.
Despite these difficulties, a few are still hopeful when it comes to Venezuela’s prospects. María Zurbarán expressed her hopes for liberation, stating, “We are expectant… What I would most like is for Venezuela to be free.” With desperation to see change deeply felt among the Venezuelan community as they adjust to their new lives overseas, they hope for a brighter tomorrow in their country of origin.
The Role of Advocacy and Support
Nonprofits such as the one employing Adelys Ferro are working on the ground to welcome organized Venezuelan immigrants. They assist these people in charting the course through their new normal. Ferro, who anchored our Public Comment series, gives voice to her and many other Venezuelans’ discontent with their portrayal on the geopolitical chessboard. “They use us. Some use us as pawns in their political schemes, and others as collateral damage,” she stated, emphasizing the need for genuine advocacy rather than mere political maneuvering.
The situation for many Venezuelans remains precarious. A young student in Buenos Aires expressed his growing concern: “It’s hard because we’re seeing more concern every day.” Another student echoed this sentiment, saying, “I hope the intention really is to liberate the country. We’ve been fighting this fight for too many years.”
As rhetoric escalates between the U.S. government under Trump and that of Maduro, the psychological effects on Venezuelans living abroad—both by migration and by displacement—are beginning to show. Many are left feeling uncertain about their future and that of their loved ones still facing daily struggles in Venezuela.
