In January 2026, huge crowds of Venezuelans did gather in Doral, a suburb of Miami known as “Doralzuela,” to celebrate the capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces.
Key Events as of January 2026:
- The Capture: On January 3, 2026, President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces had captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a large-scale military operation in Caracas.
- Miami Celebrations: The largest Venezuelan community in the U.S. flooded the streets of Doral, specifically gathering outside the restaurant El Arepazo, waving flags and chanting “Libertad!” (Liberty).
- Legal Status: Maduro was flown to New York and is currently held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. He faces charges of narco-terrorism, cocaine importation, and weapons possession in a Manhattan federal court.
- Political Response: The operation has sparked intense debate. Many Democrats and international bodies, including the United Nations, have questioned the legality of the unilateral military action and the bypassing of Congressional approval. Meanwhile, Trump stated that the U.S. intends to “run the country” temporarily until a transition occurs.
While celebrations were widespread in South Florida, other U.S. cities like New York saw protests from groups opposing the military intervention.
