At around 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 3, my 12-year-old brother burst into my bedroom, a Venezuelan flag tied around his neck like a cape. He leapt onto my bed, singing “Orit, estamos libres!” (“Orit, we’re free”), over and over again until I was forced to lob a pillow at his head in a state of drowsy confusion. Hours later, my family and I stared intently at the TV before us, waiting for the press conference to begin, Venezuelan sweets in hand and flags wrapped protectively around us. As a White Jewish girl, few people assume I could be Venezuelan until I speak Spanish (often followed by demands for “proof”, or ambushes of “say something in Spanish!”). However, looks can be deceiving, something made clear by the waves of misinformation spiraling ever since that early-morning wakeup.
Savoring the warm, humid air of my last day of winter break in Puerto Rico, my dad and I gazed up at the twinkling stars, piecing together constellations from the crowd of stars before us. “Karla, Esta es la Osa Mayor,” my dad whispered beside me in Spanish, but one of the stars seemed to shine brighter than the others, moving across the serene sky with the drone of a large engine. More followed in its wake, leaving me confused and uneasy. I didn’t realize what they were until my dad explained it to me. They were fighter jets. Back in Maryland a day later, I saw the news. Maduro had been captured. As a girl with a Hispanic background living in the United States, it is very important to me that I am educated on my culture and other Hispanic countries similar to mine. Hearing about Maduro’s capture uplifted me because of what it would mean for the people of Venezuela.
On Jan. 3, U.S. forces raided and bombed military facilities in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, capturing Venezuelan dictator, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores.
For more than two decades, Venezuela has been under a corrupt authoritarian regime. First, by Hugo Chavez, a radical socialist who led based on Chavismo, an ideology marketed as a system of social welfare and economic equality but built on the foundation of drug-trafficking, extreme government control, militarization and embezzlement. Chavez held power approximately 14 years until his death in 2013, later followed by his hand-picked successor, Nicolas Maduro.
For nearly 25 years, Venezuela has been crumbling with poverty, the currency hyperinflating by over millions, more than 90% of the population living in poverty, streets swarming with drug trafficking and the beauty and prosperity of the country gradually erased.
For years, the Venezuelan people have organized, protested, revolted and struck in attempts to restore the country to its former glory. However, Maduro’s and Chavez’s strong reliance on the military made any attempt at change not only futile but life-threatening, as anyone who spoke out against the regime was at risk of prison or death. As of 2026, there are an estimated 800 political prisoners in Venezuela. Other countries and organizations, such as the UN, have attempted to aid the country but have failed due to complex international law and the intricate regime that is Chavismo.
Serious topics such as this one often come with confusion and misconceptions. Worldwide, people are questioning the U.S.’s involvement in capturing Maduro without considering the impact of Maduro’s departure on the Venezuelan people themselves.
Although we might know the complex history of Venezuela, most people do not. This means that outside eyes are particularly prone to misinformation. Over the past few weeks, we have witnessed protests with chants of “free Maduro”, texts of “I’m sorry we kidnapped your president”, “I’m sorry Trump is using you for your oil” and overall misinformation that has spiraled out of control. Although we deeply appreciate the concern and thoughtfulness over our well-being, we’re here to set the record straight.
A large misconception is that the U.S. only removed Maduro in order to take over Venezuela’s rich oil industries and that its economy will crumble with the oil in the hands of the Americans. While this is a rational fear, it is not entirely true. Venezuela’s oil has never really been in its control. British, Iranian and Russian companies have had on-and-off control of Venezuela’s oil deposits, which they use in favor of their own intentions for years. Venezuela was paid very little revenue for its oil and had zero control over it. This means that oil has never been the biggest focus for the Venezuelan people, as they didn’t directly profit from it anyway. Freedom has always been and will continue to be their biggest priority.
Another strong misconception is that Maduro was the rightful leader of Venezuela. The actual president of Venezuela is Edmundo González, who won the July 2024 elections. However, due to Maduro’s extensive control of the military, González has zero power. This left Venezuela in a never-ending cycle of Maduro’s authoritarian rule.
In an increasingly polarized world, everything feels so extreme. You are either a Democrat or a Republican, and your values are supposed to directly align with those of “your party”. It is hard to develop independent principles when society makes it feel like one belief automatically links you with others. However, values aren’t mutually exclusive. You can be opposed to Donald Trump while still being grateful that his administration is taking action to help the Venezuelan people. You can disagree with their method of foreign intervention while recognizing that any action taken for Venezuelan liberation is more than they have received in years. You can believe that the U.S. should not be tangling itself in complicated foreign conflicts, whilst acknowledging that a dangerous dictator’s apprehension is saving countless lives.
So yes, while we know that nothing is guaranteed and hope can be very dangerous, Venezuelans have lived in despair for years. So instead of dismissing our excitement, try to understand why we hold onto it, and maybe, just maybe, join us in celebrating the possibility of freedom.
