New Yorkers Protest Against Capture of Venezuelan President Maduro

Demonstrators gathered outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on Sunday to protest against the U.S. military strikes targeting Venezuela and the recent capture of President Nicolás Maduro. The protesters called for Maduro’s release and criticized President Donald Trump’s actions as illegal. They raised concerns about U.S. interventionism and its implications for other nations.

A significant number of participants expressed their frustration with the military operation known as Operation Absolute Resolve, which they argue is driven by Venezuela’s vast oil reserves rather than the narcoterrorism charges that have plagued Maduro since 2020. “If it really cares about prosecuting drug traffickers, then why did they release [former Honduras President] Juan Orlando Hernandez, who is convicted in the same court that they’re trying Maduro now?” questioned Zoe Alexandra from the ANSWER Coalition, a group advocating against war and racial injustice.

Protesters blocked part of the sidewalk directly across from the detention center, where both Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been held since arriving in New York on January 3, 2026. The atmosphere was charged, with demonstrators chanting against the military operation.

While many voiced opposition to the U.S. government’s actions, others in the city supported the military intervention. Venezuelans like Esteban Chacin, who fled the country nine years ago, asserted that Maduro’s authoritarian regime had rendered life unsustainable. “The government that was there has been corrupt enough to earn their own blame or fault,” he stated, highlighting the complex perspectives surrounding the situation.

The protests were not without contention. Some individuals, including Zulimar Mendoza, who left her family in Venezuela in 2018, expressed their desire for fundamental change. Mendoza, who works to send money back home, described the dire conditions faced by families in Venezuela, remarking, “I saw families, entire families, eating from the garbage.” She emphasized the necessity of the current actions taken by the U.S. government, framing them as essential for the future of her homeland.

Throughout the weekend, Venezuelan flags were displayed in New York City, symbolizing hope for change. However, others found this celebration troubling. “Celebrating a shame, celebrating a crime. How can somebody be celebrating a crime? The kidnapping of a president?” remarked Lucy Pagoada from Queens.

As President Trump announced temporary U.S. control over Venezuela, the attention of Venezuelans around the world remains fixated on the unfolding situation. “I just hope that if it all falls in the hands of Venezuelans, that we can dictate our own future,” Chacin concluded, echoing the sentiments of many who wish to see their country regain autonomy and stability.

The situation continues to evolve, and the implications of these military actions could reverberate beyond Venezuela, influencing U.S. foreign policy and international relations in the region.