| On January 3, 2026, U.S. military forces launched a high-stakes raid in Caracas, Venezuela, fundamentally altering the political landscape of Venezuela domestically and internationally. The operation mainly targeted senior figures of the Venezuelan government, with U.S. troops ultimately detaining Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during the operation [1]. Fighting broke out near government buildings and security compounds, with witnesses reporting gunfire, explosions, and power outages across multiple parts of the city [1].
U.S. officials stated that the mission aimed to enforce long-standing federal indictments related to drug trafficking [2]. American forces transported Maduro and Flores to the United States within hours, where both later appeared in federal court in New York [2]. In Washington, President Donald Trump stated that the U.S. would take control of Venezuela for a short period of time, framing the action as an attempt to restore order and curb narcotics trafficking within the region [3]. These remarks immediately drew criticism from foreign governments and legal scholars, many of whom described the raid as a violation of international law and Venezuelan sovereignty [3]. Inside Venezuela, officials reported deaths among security forces and allied personnel [1]. The government declared days of national mourning with military patrols increasing in Caracas and other major cities [1]. Power outages and transportation delays followed in several regions, while public fear intensified as rumors spread across social media platforms [1]. In response, several Latin American governments issued formal protests, and the United Nations convened emergency meetings to review the operation [4]. Members of the U.S. Congress from all political backgrounds questioned the legal basis for further military action, with some calling for limits on the continued use of force [3]. Venezuelan authorities later named Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim president [4]. Rodríguez condemned the raid and called for international mediation while also signaling interest in talks with Washington to prevent further violence [4]. U.S. pressure expanded beyond Venezuela in the days following the raid. Between January 6 and January 8, U.S. forces seized multiple oil tankers linked to Venezuelan exports [5]. One vessel, the Olina, was boarded in the Caribbean after U.S. officials claimed it violated sanctions and helped fund state operations [6]. These seizures raised concerns among shipping companies and regional governments about trade and legal complications [5]. While global attention focused on geopolitical fallout and oil markets, for the Venezuelan-American community in New Jersey, the crisis became deeply personal. For many families, the events in Caracas represented not just a political turning point but a matter of their loved ones’ safety and survival. The following interview offers a personal perspective on how the raid, Maduro’s arrest, and the ongoing political turmoil have affected families living between Venezuela and the United States. |
Operation Caracas: A TimelineJanuary 3, 2026 : The Raid on Caracas January 5, 2026 : Maduro in U.S. Court January 6–8, 2026 : Oil Tanker Seizures Ongoing Developments
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Interview with Rut (Venezuelan American):
Interviewer: Can you take me back to the moment you first heard about the raid in Caracas? Where were you, and who did you reach out to first?
Rut: I heard the news at night. I was already in bed, about to fall asleep—it was late, maybe around 1:00 a.m.—when my mom woke me up. She said, “Rut, it’s happening. They’re going into Caracas. They’re bombing Caracas.”
I couldn’t believe it, honestly, because so many times before they had said similar things—this time it’s going to happen, they’re going to take Maduro out—and it never did. Before, they tried internal military efforts, and those didn’t work either. So I was skeptical. I said, “Mom, are you sure?”
But then she came back again, and I realized something really must be going on. When I turned on the TV and saw all the videos on YouTube, I couldn’t believe my eyes. The first information came from people uploading videos almost live—YouTubers who focus on Venezuelan news.
I was at home with my mom, my brother was nearby too, and we were all in shock. That was the first feeling—we just couldn’t believe what was happening. The first people we contacted were my grandmother and my dad in Venezuela, and a few cousins. We wanted to know how they were doing, because information inside Venezuela is very limited. Sometimes things happen and people there don’t even know.
We managed to talk to my dad and my aunt. They were okay, and they also couldn’t believe it. The first thing you do is reach out to family.
Interviewer: After that news broke, how, if at all, did your day-to-day life in the U.S. begin to change?
Rut: I don’t know if it changed my life here that much. But for sure, friends, people at work, and people at my church all wanted to know my opinion. They wanted to know what was really happening in the country, so they reached out to me a lot for information and to check on how my family was doing there.
In my daily life, not much has changed. I still go to work every day. Maybe I’m a little more distracted because I keep checking the news on my phone to see if there’s anything new happening. You could say that affects my day-to-day at work a little bit. Other than that, everything is still the same. My heart feels divided right now because I’m trying to stay as informed as possible.
Interviewer: What was your immediate reaction when you learned that Maduro was in U.S. custody?
Rut: It was around 4:00 in the morning. I was already tired from all the news and not being able to sleep because everything was so intense. There was so much happening every 30 minutes or every hour that night.
Around 4:00, I thought, Okay, I should go to bed and get some rest now that I know what’s happening. And just at that moment, my brother came to me and said, “Rut, they got him. Maduro is in custody.” I couldn’t believe it. I had so many emotions inside me: excitement, disbelief. I was in shock.
So was my brother. So was my mom. My sister was on the phone, and she was also very excited. We didn’t know how to react. Tears started coming down, and we were talking and celebrating. We were so happy. That’s something we’ve been waiting for 26 years — not just me and my family, but Venezuelans inside and outside the country, hoping for justice. Justice for people who have done so much evil and hurt so many families in Venezuela.
If I had to summarize, my first reaction was a shout of excitement. I felt shocked and overwhelmed but happy at the same time. It was all mixed together. We were shouting, celebrating, and so happy at that moment.
Interviewer: Over the past week, what kinds of messages have you been receiving from family or friends back in Venezuela?
Rut: That’s a really good question, because a lot of people only look at the news and the big decisions being made, but everyday life there is still not what we want. There’s still a lot of work to do. Taking Maduro was a huge step, and we’re very grateful to the United States and the men who carried out that mission. But Maduro didn’t work alone. He had people who worked with him, and they’re still there. They’re scared, but they still have weapons, and they think they can win this war.
They try to keep control of people through fear. Lately my dad told us, “I’m going to leave the WhatsApp groups, the family groups and all that,” because police are stopping people on the streets just to check their phones. If there’s any news or messages about Maduro’s capture or the situation, people can be taken into custody. The authorities say they’re spreading hatred or terrorism.
So the situation right now is still very delicate. We Venezuelans outside the country are celebrating, but people inside Venezuela can’t celebrate yet. They have to be very cautious and careful because the mission isn’t completed. It’s not just Maduro. There are other people they still need to go after. People are still scared and still fear the government that remains inside Venezuela.
Interviewer: What are they telling you about conditions on the ground, things like access to food, medicine, electricity, and personal safety?
Rut: This is still very difficult in the country. Not much has changed because only the first few steps were taken. Taking Maduro was a huge step, but there’s still a lot of work to do. When it comes to food, medicine, and electricity, it’s still chaotic.
There is food, but the problem is money. There are no real salaries. People are still struggling to make it to the end of the month or to buy basic things like food and medicine. You can find these things, but people don’t have money because there’s no salary and no pension for the elderly.
So that situation is still a big challenge. We’re hoping this whole mission gets completed and that they can remove the people loyal to Maduro who are still there, so they can rebuild the country in all areas. That’s when people inside will really be able to celebrate — when they have dignified salaries and basic stability. Right now, it’s very difficult just to make it to the end of the month.
Interviewer: How do you feel about the interim government led by Delcy Rodríguez? Do you trust it, and why or why not?
Rut: That’s a great question. Delcy Rodríguez is not someone we trust at all. Most of us had mixed feelings when President Trump said she would be the interim president or that she was the one they were negotiating with. We’re not happy about it because we know her. We know how close she was to Maduro. We know the way they think and do business. They see the country as a business for their personal benefit, never in the interest of the people.
She and her family, especially her brothers, are famous in Venezuela for the terrible things they did to people and the constant threats they made. So honestly, we’re not happy about that. In this case, we’re trusting the process and trusting President Trump’s decision, hoping they will later remove her, because she’s not someone you can trust.
I don’t think it will be possible for the government to carry out all the projects and the future they imagine if they keep her, her family, and the people around her. It’s just not possible.
Interviewer: Has the release of political prisoners changed how you think about Venezuela’s future? In what way?
Rut: The release of political prisoners was the number one demand from President Trump, and it was also one of the things we were hoping they would do first. We were happy when we saw on the news that they were going to release them. Unfortunately, so far they’ve only released a handful of people out of the thousands who are still in jail. We’re very sad that this isn’t going according to plan. The deal was that they would release all of them, but so far they haven’t done their part.
That’s why we say we can’t trust Delcy and her people, because they say one thing and then do something different. We still pray and hope that all the prisoners can be released. So many families—thousands of families—are waiting for their loved ones, hoping they can see them again and that they’re okay. Some haven’t seen their relatives in years and don’t even know if they’re alive.
That’s what we truly hope for: that all prisoners are freed. Otherwise, it would be impossible to trust these people and this process.
Interviewer: At this moment, what do you most want people in the United States to understand about what’s happening?
Rut: The political situation is very complex. It’s hard to explain in a few minutes—or even a few hours—because it’s 26 years of history. Many people only see the recent news, but they don’t know everything that led up to this.
I see people protesting the invasion of Venezuela or worrying that our oil is being taken, or that we’re losing our sovereignty. A lot of people are focused on that. What most of us Venezuelans want is for people to listen to us.
Right now, we don’t care about oil or natural resources. Of course imperialism and sovereignty matter, but the most important thing for us is freedom. We just want our people free. We want to go back to Venezuela, walk freely, and express ourselves without being afraid the government will take you, take your property, or destroy your business. That’s what’s been happening for 26 years.
We never saw any benefit from the oil because Maduro used it for his own profit and for the people around him. Meanwhile, people were starving, businesses collapsed, and we had to sell our houses and migrate because there was nothing left for us there.
What we want people to understand is that freedom is what matters most. We want to reunite with our families. It doesn’t matter the cost—freedom doesn’t have a price. For us right now, it’s whatever it takes. We just want our people free.
Don’t worry about the resources; worry about us. There are people suffering right now in Venezuela. Families are crying because their children had to leave, and others are crying because they don’t even know if their loved ones are alive in prison.
That’s what we want the world to listen to. We want people to feel empathy for us, listen to us, and understand us.
Works Cited
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Al Jazeera. “US seizes fifth oil tanker as Venezuela pressure campaign continues.” January 9, 2026.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/9/us-seizes-fifth-oil-tanker-as-venezuela-pressure-campaign-continue - Al Jazeera. “Venezuela starts ‘exploratory process’ to re-establish formal ties with the US.” January 9, 2026.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/9/venezuela-starts-exploratory-process-to-re-establish-formal-ties-with-us - AP News. “Maduro says ‘I was captured’ as he pleads not guilty to drug trafficking charges.” January 5, 2026.
https://apnews.com/article/131f59e517cc8314a53c8dace230d328 - CBS News. “Trump says U.S. is ‘in charge’ of Venezuela, Maduro jailed in New York after U.S. military operation.” January 2026.
https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/venezuela-us-military-strikes-maduro-trump/ - CBS News. “U.S. seizes Venezuela-linked oil tankers; Rubio says U.S. will control money from oil sales.” January 2026.
https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/venezuela-maduro-capture-president-trump-senate-oil/ - Reuters. “US in process of seizing Olina tanker in the Caribbean, US official says.” January 9, 2026.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-process-seizing-olina-tanker-caribbean-us-official-says-2026-01-09/