Eileen Higgins, newly sworn in as mayor of Miami, made a plea to the Trump administration in her inaugural address: the federal government must reinstate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelan immigrants in the U.S.
The statement came after the official capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro by special forces: “The termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans earlier this year was reckless. The instability in Venezuela today makes it even clearer that the country remains unsafe for people to return to. No one should be forced to return to chaos and uncertainty.”
She continued: “Venezuelans have built their lives here, contributed to our community, and deserve the security of remaining here while their homeland regains stability. This is not just a matter of policy, but a matter of fundamental human dignity and security.”
Meanwhile, since early morning, hundreds have been gathering in front of Arepazo, a popular restaurant in Doral, a city neighboring Miami where more than 40% of the residents are of Venezuelan origin.
“We woke up to the great news that someone had finally done justice, and that filled us with happiness,” says Douglas Zarzalejo, a 55-year-old Venezuelan who has lived in Florida for 11 years. “The recovery of our country has begun.”
Many are wrapped in Venezuelan flags, eager to sing and embrace each other after the arrest of the man they blame largely for Venezuela’s decline. Among them, a young man waves a banner with the message “Trump was right about everything.”
In Doral, numerous Venezuelans praise the U.S. president, who announced Maduro’s capture during an operation in Caracas and his transfer to the United States, where he will face justice on charges of drug trafficking and terrorism.
“Trump will go down in history as the first president who finally stood up to these corrupt individuals who had hijacked our country,” says Zarzalejo.
In front of the Arepazo, Liz Vivas weeps as she remembers her husband, Wilmer Muñoz, a Venezuelan official critical of the Maduro government, whom authorities allegedly disappeared in July 2018.
“I know nothing about him, and this is a great joy. I couldn’t bury him, I couldn’t see him, but thanks to Maduro’s fall, he can breathe a little easier. I feel that justice has been served,” adds the 39-year-old Venezuelan.
Shortly after 11:00 a.m. local time, when Trump takes the floor from his Mar-a-Lago residence, about 110 km north of Doral, the hundreds of Venezuelans fall silent and focus on their cell phones to listen to his speech.
The president declared that the United States would “govern” Venezuela until a “peaceful” transition took place, dampening the spirits of those present when he noted that his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, had been in contact with Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez.
He also sowed confusion when he added that opposition leader María Corina Machado, beloved among the Venezuelan diaspora and a staunch Trump supporter, “has no support or respect within her country.”
This was a surprising statement, given that Washington and much of the international community maintain that the true winner of the 2024 elections was opposition candidate Edmundo González—who replaced the disqualified Machado—despite Maduro’s self-proclaimed victory.
“María Corina is our president. We have no other representation if not her,” Liz Vivas stated emphatically.
For some Venezuelans in Florida, uncertainty about the future somewhat dampens the euphoria over Maduro’s downfall.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen. Trump just said that the vice president (Delcy Rodríguez) belongs to him. He’s crazy. Everyone wants María Corina,” says Eleazar Morrison, a 47-year-old Venezuelan. “I don’t trust Trump, but I am extremely grateful,” he summarizes.
Raúl Chávez, a Venezuelan in Miami, was concerned by the US president’s speech.
“It’s a mixed feeling. I really want freedom for Venezuela, but I also want Venezuela’s independence, and we hope there can be a transition or an elected Venezuelan government,” he states.
