Venezuelans in US are torn between joy, worry after ousting of Maduro

NEW YORK, Jan 12: Venezuelans in the United States are reacting with a mix of relief and anxiety after the Trump administration removed President Nicolás Maduro in a late-night military raid.
While many welcome the fall of a leader blamed for repression and economic collapse, few believe the change makes it safe to return home. Many fear that Maduro’s allies remain in power and that meaningful political reform will take time.
For more than 770,000 Venezuelans in the US, uncertainty is heightened by Trump’s decision to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and expand deportations of those without permanent residency. Advocates like Alejandra Salima say returning now would put families at risk, despite optimism about Maduro’s removal.
Interviews across the country show little rush to return. Migrants such as Jose Luis Rojas, who fled hyperinflation and violence, have rebuilt their lives in the US with asylum, work permits and stability. While they hope for positive change in Venezuela, tighter US immigration policies have already forced some Venezuelans to leave for other countries.
Nearly 8 million Venezuelans have fled over the past decade, with hundreds of thousands settling in US communities.
Many say Maduro’s removal is only a first step and that rooting out loyalists and restoring democracy will take years. Across political views, Venezuelans share a common message: they welcome change in their homeland but want the freedom to choose whether and when to return. (AP)