Venezuela

Trump administration e-mails parole termination notices to Cubans, Haitians, Venezuelans, Nicaraguans

President Donald Trump’s administration has been issuing warnings to Cubans, Haitians, Venezuelans, and Nicaraguans that their immigration status under a humanitarian program has changed.

South Florida businesses, immigrants brace for fallout after TPS ruling, rollback of parole programs

A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling affecting Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans has sent shockwaves through South Florida’s immigrant communities and among business owners.

Rawayana makes Venezuelan diaspora proud at Coachella

Alberto “Beto” Montenegro, Antonio Casas, Andrés Story, and Alejandro Abeijón have been living between Miami and Mexico City.

Trump reverses license allowing Chevron to operate in Venezuela

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that in March Chevron will no longer have a license to produce and export oil in Venezuela.

Trump’s DHS halts humanitarian immigration processing for migrants fleeing dictators

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has halted the processing of certain parole program applications, affecting thousands of immigrants already in the country.

Gimenez, local officials worry ending TPS for Venezuelans will hurt Doral, Weston economies

Officials in South Florida are speaking up against the end of the U.S. Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans over fear that it will hurt their local economies.

Venezuelan American Caucus joins fight for Temporary Protected Status, denounces Trump’s negotiations with Maduro

Venezuelan American Caucus advocates reacted Monday to President Donald Trump’s administration’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans and to negotiate with Nicolás Maduro.

Venezuelan exiles in South Florida concerned over possible loss of Temporary Protective Status

Doral is home to a large and typically vocal Venezuelan exile community.

Activistas del sur de la Florida planean demanda después de que se revocara el TPS para venezolanos

La extensión de 18 meses del Estatus de Protección Temporal (TPS) de la administración Biden para los venezolanos está siendo revocada por el presidente Donald Trump.

South Florida activists plan lawsuit after TPS for Venezuelans revoked

The Biden administration’s 18-month extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans is being revoked by President Donald Trump.

Salazar on Venezuelan TPS expiring in April: ‘Maduro has to go! Trump is the only force to get him out’

The Trump administration will not be renewing the Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans when it expires in April.

Venezuelans protest in South Florida as Maduro starts 3rd term amid $25M bounty

Venezuelans in South Florida gathered in protest Thursday as Nicolás Maduro was sworn in for a controversial third six-year term, amid claims of election fraud and a $25 million bounty for his arrest related to alleged drug trafficking.

Venezuelans protest in South Florida as Maduro takes contested oath of office

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was sworn in for another term on Friday, deepening the country’s political crisis as opposition leaders and many Venezuelans claim he lost the election.

Venezuelans across the world waiting as country prepares for new presidential term

The Venezuelan diaspora gathered across the world on Thursday, one day ahead of the beginning of a new presidential term.

Venezuela’s Juan Guaido celebrates change in Syria

A Venezuelan opposition leader who was granted political asylum in the U.S. took to X on Sunday to celebrate that Arab socialists were no longer in power in Syria.

FBI works with Colombia to continue to take down more Venezuelan Tren de Aragua leaders

As a prison gang in Venezuela grew into a transnational criminal organization, investigators believe the gang’s leaders trusted Carlos “Bobby” Gomez to command the members who were causing havoc in South America’s western edge.

Man who worked for Venezuelan oil company admits to U.S. sanctions evasion benefiting Maduro

Federal prosecutors said George Semerene Quintero’s case showed Nicolás Maduro used the Venezuelan oil company to illegally funnel parts to maintain planes used by him and his cronies.

Miami professor warns Trump’s deportation plans could impact Florida immigrants

A Miami-based professor is warning that heightened deportation efforts under potential Trump administration policies could impact over a million immigrants in Florida alone, with local communities and families facing serious consequences.

How man went from federal prison in Miami to a powerful job overseeing a country’s industrial system

In a bizarre turn, a 52-year-old Colombian businessman with friends in high places went from sleeping in a federal prison in Miami to recently celebrating his appointment as Venezuela’s new minister of industry and national production.

Maduro shows solidarity with Hezbollah; opposition demonstrates in Doral

On Saturday night, during a televised speech at an event related to the disputed presidential election in Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro stood next to several men who wore traditional Arab headdresses known as keffiyeh or hatta.

Police: Miami-Dade money laundering scheme had links to Venezuela, Cuba, Panama, Spain

A 39-year-old man in Miami-Dade County stands accused Wednesday of money laundering millions as part of a scheme with links to Venezuela, Cuba, Panama, and Spain.

Senate bill sets $100 million reward for arrest, conviction of Nicolás Maduro

Senator Rick Scott and Senator Marco Rubio introduce legislation to increase the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Nicolás Maduro.

US seizes plane belonging to Nicolás Maduro, brings it to South Florida

The U.S. has seized a plane belonging to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and brought it to a South Florida airport.

How Maduro’s administration works around U.S. sanctions, according to prosecutors

Despite U.S. sanctions, prosecutors say Venezuela’s state-owned oil company accessed aircraft parts from the U.S. such as bearings, joint slide flexes, and actuators for its aircraft fleet.

Venezuelan opposition continues worldwide demonstrations including in Miami

Venezuelans continued protests on Saturday at home and around the world. Thousands were at a rally at the FPL Solar Amphitheater, at Bayfront Park, in downtown Miami.

Venezuela in crisis: Demonstrations from Miami to Caracas continue after election

The Venezuelan flag and “Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!” chants took over Bayfront Park’s amphitheater on Saturday in Downtown Miami.

Venezuela in crisis: Human rights activists report 79 teenagers in custody after deadly protests

Human rights activists reported Friday that they had records of 79 teenagers who were arrested after protests erupted Monday in reaction to the results of the July 28 presidential election.

Crisis in Venezuela: Protesters in support of opposition to meet at Miami’s Bayfront Park

The organizers of a protest in solidarity with the opposition in Venezuela on Saturday in Downtown Miami announced there are free parking options.

Crisis in Venezuela: Justice First opposition party reports more arbitrary detentions

The Justice First, or Primero Justicia, an opposition political party in Venezuela, reported more arbitrary detentions on Friday.

Crisis in Venezuela: Maduro reports 1,200 arrests during protests, warns about 1,000 more

Nicolas Maduro reports 1,200 arrests during protests and threatens to arrest 1,000 more. Nongovernmental organizations report arbitrary arrests, executions, and raids by police and military forces.

Crisis in Venezuela: Padrino’s cousin in U.S. urges 4-star general to ‘do the right thing’

The Padrino family appears to embody the divisions of many Venezuelans and Venezuelan Americans during the ongoing political crisis.

Maduro turns to loyalists amid calls for election transparency: ‘I throw myself before justice’

Nicolás Maduro and his ruling socialist party continued to attack and criminalize dissent Wednesday amid growing calls for transparency after the election on Sunday.

Biden administration questions legitimacy of Venezuela’s election results

The Biden administration shared their concerns Tuesday over the recent Venezuelan presidential election results, questioning the legitimacy of incumbent Nicolas Maduro’s declared victory and calling for transparency from Venezuela’s electoral authorities.

South Florida leaders demand action amid controversy over Venezuelan election results

South Florida leaders and residents continued their demand for change at a press conference Tuesday after questioning the legitimacy of Venezuelan President Maduro’s purported re-election.

Biden administration calls for transparency in Venezuela election

President Joe Biden left the White House Monday facing questions on various issues, including the contentious election results in Venezuela.

South Florida Venezuelans prepare for country’s elections, hope for change

Venezuelans will be heading to the polls this weekend in a tensely awaited presidential election.

Feds describe how Miami contract pilot got caught trafficking cocaine

A Miami contract pilot known as “Jagger” flew a private jet registered in the U.S. from the Dominican Republic to Venezuela where he expected men to load about 1,700 kilograms of cocaine from Colombia.

Ex-Venezuelan military major in Fort Lauderdale admits to role in $1.7M fraud involving corruption

A former Venezuelan National Guard major pretended to be involved in the financing of food imports when in reality he was part of a $1.7 million fraud, according to U.S. prosecutors.

Griselda archives: Cocaine dirty money affords foreign brutal killers luxury in Miami

Luis Garcia-Blanco, a Cuban who had arrived in Miami on the Mariel boatlift, was accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend Maricel Gutierrez in the head with a machine gun in 1980, in Miami-Dade. He had allegedly also cut off her finger and kept it in a Bible.

Venezuelan street gang members use women to lure murder victim to Miami-Dade hotel, records show

Venezuela’s vicious Tren De Aragua street gang — known for its brutality in dominating narcotrafficking and black markets — is operating in Miami-Dade County, according to federal and local law enforcement. A recent murder is evidence that the gang used women as a lure and was working out of hotels in Medley and near the Miami International Airport.

U.S.-Venezuela prisoner swap: Family in Florida celebrates man’s return in time for Christmas

Stephanie Cristella, who lives in Florida’s Orlando area, said she is hoping her cousin will make it to his mother’s house in Boise, Idaho — in time for Christmas.

‘More Americans at risk’: Gimenez, others critical of Biden decision of Venezuela prisoner swap

The United States agreed to free a close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in exchange for 10 Americans imprisoned there.

New US-Venezuela prisoner swap includes Miami federal case

A US-Venezuela prisoner swap was ongoing on Wednesday between Nicolas Maduro, who is wanted for narcotrafficking in the U.S., and President Joe Biden’s administration.

Scott has public phone conversation with Venezuela’s María Corina Machado

U.S. Sen. Rick Scott was in Miami-Dade County’s Sweetwater on Friday when he had a public conversation on the phone with María Corina Machado, a lead figure of the Venezuelan opposition.

South Floridians cast ballots in Venezuelan primary election

Some South Florida residents cast their ballots on Sunday in an election taking place thousands of miles away.

Juan Guaidó to join FIU as visiting professor

The former Venezuelan opposition leader, Juan Guaidó, has accepted an invitation from Florida International University to become a visiting professor.

Many Venezuelans no longer have to live in fear of deportation

Sigmund Garcia, who was born in Venezuela and moved to South Florida about a year ago, said in Spanish that he lives with the fear of deportation.

Immigration parole program: Cuban mother dreams of family reunion in Miami-Dade

Odamyis Gomez, a married mother of two in Cuba, said she dreams of a family reunion in Miami-Dade County, and she had put her hope on President Joe Biden’s parole program. But in January, a group of 20 states challenged the case-by-case basis program to help Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans.

Venezuela bans opposition leader from public office for 15 years

María Corina Machado, one of the few opposition leaders left in Venezuela, won’t be able to hold public office for 15 years, the troubled country’s officials announced on Friday.

With new leadership urging for unity, Venezuela’s opposition stands divided in South Florida

While the Venezuelan diaspora in South Florida agrees that Nicolás Maduro needs to be removed from power, they don’t all have hope for the future of the opposition and the 2024 presidential elections.

South Florida sponsor helping Venezuelan migrants with Biden parole program

As President Joe Biden announced the recent expansion of an immigration policy for migrants coming from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, sponsors in South Florida are stepping up to help people who might not even know about the program.

Treasury Department to probe whether DeSantis misused COVID funds for migrant flights

The U.S. Department of the Treasury will investigate whether Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis misused pandemic relief funds to fly a group of Venezuelan migrants from Texas to Massachusetts in September, a U.S. Senator said.

Texas sheriff opens investigation into DeSantis’ migrant flight to Martha’s Vineyard

A Texas sheriff has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision to fly a group of migrants from San Antonio to Martha’s Vineyard, his agency tweeted Monday evening.

Colombia’s upcoming political shift comes amid guerrilla leader’s mystery

The Colombian government claims the leader of a remaining Marxist guerrilla group is on his deathbed in Venezuela. The guerrilla group claims he was injured but he is recovering.

US to ease a few economic sanctions against Venezuela

The United States government is moving to ease a few economic sanctions on Venezuela in a gesture meant to encourage resumed negotiations between the U.S.-backed opposition and the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

South Florida Venezuelans vent frustrations over Biden’s dialogue with Maduro

The White House is touting the release of two American's they say were wrongfully detained in Venezuela.

Russia’s aggression against Ukraine comes amid Colombia-Venezuela tensions

Russia’s aggression against Ukraine comes at a time when tensions between Colombia and Venezuela have been escalating.

Colombian working as Venezuelan envoy was DEA informant, records show

A federal judge unsealed records on Wednesday in Miami revealing that a Colombian businessman who Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had described as his envoy was a confidential source for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Venezuela’s long-running economic crisis appears to have hit bottom

Gladys Rosales, a retired nurse in Caracas, said she has trouble making ends meet. She has to rely on the bolivar despite the ongoing dollarization in Venezuela.

Venezuela: Next opportunity for voters to remove Maduro is in 2024

Nicolás Maduro’s supporters determined the Venezuelan opposition had 12 hours to collect the 4.2 million signatures needed to request a revocation referendum against the president.

‘Mega Elections’ in Venezuela wrap up, with Maduro’s party taking majority of positions

Venezuela's elections have come to a close, with Maduro's party taking 20 of the 23 governorships in the country.

Venezuelans head to the polls for ‘mega elections’ this Sunday

Venezuelans head to the polls this weekend to participate in what has been described as "mega-elections."

Small town entrepreneurs find opportunity in Haitian migrant crisis

The small beachside town street vendors that used to cater to Colombian city tourists have adapted their inventory to their new customers: A new wave of desperate migrants heading to the U.S.

More Haitian migrants face deadly jungle after crossing Colombia-Panama border

At the Colombian coastal town of Necoclí, there is a store selling only boat tickets to cross the Gulf of Urabá — which acts as the bridge between South and Central America.

Colombian coastal town adapts to surge of Haitian migrants en route to US-Mexico border

Necoclí is no longer the secluded beachside town tourists from neighboring cities used to visit. The stop in a smugglers’ route is old. Local officials say the desperation is unprecedented.

Venezuelan trio aims to document refugee crisis during pandemic

Three members of Fuerza y Fé, a Venezuelan nonprofit organization, said they are hiking with undocumented migrants to help give others perspective about the ongoing diaspora.

Venezuelans wait in long lines in attempt to get a COVID vaccine in Caracas

Pandemic continues to hurt most vulnerable in Venezuela, Colombia

Refugees fearing Venezuelan military remain stranded in Arauquita

Edith Rosa Medina remained at a temporary shelter this week in Colombia’s town of Auraquita. She has been sleeping in a tent set up at a basketball court where the students of the Gabriel Garcia Marquez school usually play.

Deadly Venezuelan military operation sends thousands of refugees to Colombia

For days, the explosions and shootings were loud enough that people on both sides of the Venezuela-Colombia border could hear them. The violence was part of a Venezuelan military operation that started about two weeks ago.

Biden injected hope into Venezuela’s opposition, Guaidó's envoy says

Opposition leader Juan Guaidó's envoy to the United States, Carlos Vecchio, said Friday that President Joe Biden took a very important step when he granted Temporary Protected Status to Venezuelans.

Venezuelan women work against gender inequality, femicide

Feminist groups celebrated International Women’s Day this week with the conviction that their movement is growing. Green-clad women celebrated in Argentina after legalizing abortion late last year. In Caracas, Andrea Paola Hernández recently held up her green bandana to show she is pro-choice.

Venezuelan opposition sends message of gratitude to Biden over TPS

Members of the Venezuelan opposition continued to send messages of gratitude on Tuesday to President Joe Biden for granting Temporary Protected Status to undocumented Venezuelans in the United States.

Miami-Dade Democrats celebrate Venezuelans’ TPS at El Arepazo

Tuesday is the first of 180 days that Venezuelans in South Florida will be able to apply for the new Temporary Protected Status, which also allows an application for a work permit and travel authorization.

Guaidó's envoy meets with Democrats behind Venezuelans’ Temporary Protected Status

Venezuelans in South Florida breathe sigh of relief as Biden grants temporary protected status

President Joe Biden’s administration granted Venezuelans a Temporary Protected Status, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced on Monday.

Immigration policy: Boy waits for Biden to stop painful family separation

There is heartbreak in Florida and in Colombia. A Venezuelan-American family hasn’t been able to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Eve together for three Decembers now.

Government-owned hotel stands as evidence of deepening class divide in Venezuela

The Hotel Humboldt in Venezuela is the project of an extravagant military dictator’s use of oil royalties in the 1950s. Former President Hugo Chávez started to restore it in 2012, and despite shortages of food and medications, President Nicolas Maduro completed the project in 2018.

Venezuelan economy increasingly depends on bartering and dollars

At 21 years old, David Soho trades plantains in the streets of Caracas, Venezuela’s capital. He said finding a job has been difficult without work experience, so it was easier for him to start his own business.

Impoverished Venezuelan refugees wait for next steps to legal status in Colombia

Estefania Gonzalez is among the undocumented Venezuelan refugees who are panhandling in the streets of Bogota during the coronavirus pandemic.

Amid censorship in Venezuela, neighborhood reporters rely on loudspeakers, posters

The perils of the truth during authoritarian rule have forced Venezuelan community reporters to rely on loudspeakers systems to deliver the news.

Maduro consolidates power in Venezuela with control of National Assembly

Nicolas Maduro’s allies took over Venezuela’s National Assembly on Tuesday — consolidating power and increasing the vulnerability of the opposition.

Former political prisoner in exile visits Colombia-Venezuela border

Leopoldo Lopez, the son of the great-grandchild of Venezuela’s first president, recently hiked one of the many treacherous trails that Venezuelans regularly hike to Colombia. The journey, often led by resourceful black-market entrepreneurs, requires crossing a muddy area and the Tachira River.