Reactions across our community and among Venezuelan American communities were sharply divided following the U.S. military operation that removed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power.
Some praised the move as long overdue, and others condemned it as unconstitutional and driven by economic interests.
Demonstrators marched in several cities to support and denounce Trump’s decision to deploy U.S. forces in Venezuela.
Protesters called for American troops to stand down and urged the administration to pursue diplomacy and a restoration of peace.
Several Illinois political leaders criticized the operation, arguing that Trump failed to consult Congress, making the action unconstitutional under the War Powers Resolution.
Concerns were also raised about U.S. intentions in the oil-rich nation.
Some community members said the intervention appeared aimed at wresting control of Venezuela’s vast energy resources rather than protecting democracy or human rights.
Among Venezuelans living in Chicago and other U.S. cities, responses were more nuanced. Many described “mixed reactions” to Maduro’s ouster, acknowledging both relief at his removal and unease about foreign military intervention.
Nelly Jiménez-Arévalo, a leader in the Venezuelan community in the Philadelphia region and a former member of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs, said the news brought conflicting emotions.
“As a Venezuelan American, I do not agree with many of the things that the federal government is doing,” Jiménez-Arévalo said, according to Philadelphia Public Radio. “However, I think this was the only way that Maduro was going to leave Venezuela.”
She emphasized that Maduro was widely viewed as an illegitimate leader, citing domestic and international analyses indicating that opposition candidate Edmundo González defeated Maduro in the country’s disputed 2024 election.
Elected officials across party lines also weighed in.
Ohio Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno praised the operation, calling it a decisive moment for the region. In a statement, Moreno said Trump “changed the course of Latin America for a generation” by eliminating what he described as a “narco-terror organization” led by Maduro.
Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, also a Republican, offered a more cautious view. While condemning Maduro as “a very bad guy,” Kasich questioned whether direct U.S. military intervention was justified, warning that the precedent could be used against the United States in the future.
Former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown criticized the administration’s priorities, arguing that Washington should focus on domestic economic struggles rather than foreign interventions.
In Detroit, activist Abayomi Azikiwe said he joined protests opposing the bombing of Venezuela amid growing hardship at home.
“We’re facing a real crisis here,” Azikiwe said, reported the Detroit Free Press. “We don’t have money to be spending trying to overthrow other governments.”
