Venezuelan migrants across the globe erupted in jubilation on Saturday after the U.S.-led apprehension of President Nicolas Maduro, who presided over one of the most significant migration waves in recent history. Cheers celebrating Maduro’s detainment resonated in the streets of Santiago, where Venezuelan expatriates gathered to express their elation.
“We are liberated. We are all thrilled that the dictatorship has collapsed, and we now have a free nation,” exclaimed Khaty Yanez, a Venezuelan resident in Chile for the past seven years. “My happiness knows no bounds,” echoed her compatriot Jose Gregorio. “After numerous years of struggle and hard work, today marks the day of liberation.”
Since 2014, an estimated 7.7 million Venezuelans, constituting 20% of the population, have left the country due to economic hardships or in pursuit of better prospects abroad, as reported by the U.N. International Organization for Migration. Colombia has welcomed the largest share of this exodus, hosting around 2.8 million Venezuelans, followed by 1.7 million in Peru, according to the R4V platform, a coalition of regional NGOs aiding Venezuelan migrants and refugees.
In Lima, the capital of Peru, scores of Venezuelans congregated, many draped in their national flag, to commemorate Maduro’s arrest. Peruvian President Jose Jeri announced plans to facilitate the immediate repatriation of Venezuelans, irrespective of their immigration status.
Despite the initial revelry, apprehensions about Venezuela’s future loomed large among expatriates, pondering the fate of their homeland and its populace. Andres Losada, a Spanish resident for three years among the 400,000 Venezuelans officially residing in the country, expressed a mix of anxiety and delight over the developments in Venezuela.
Venezuelan security forces patrolled the quiet streets of Caracas on Saturday, with most residents staying indoors, monitoring the unfolding events on their devices. Agustin Rodriguez, vice president of a Venezuelan cultural association in Spain, voiced concerns about the military actions but acknowledged their potential necessity for steering the country towards a future with power rotation and stability.
As celebrations reverberated worldwide, the Venezuelan diaspora remains cautiously optimistic about the road ahead for their homeland.