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Pre-dawn raid ends Maduro's rule
US special forces detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife at their compound before dawn on Saturday, sparking immediate celebrations among expatriates in Florida.
Doral erupts in jubilation
Hundreds of Venezuelan Americans and expatriates gathered in Doral, a Miami suburb where over 40% of residents trace their roots to Venezuela. Many had fled economic collapse and violence under Maduro's decade-long rule.
Rosana Mateos, a Venezuelan expat in the US since 2012, said her husband woke her with the news. "I could not believe it," she recalled. By mid-morning, crowds packed El Arepazo, a local Venezuelan restaurant, chanting, honking horns, and waving flags.
Exiles voice relief and hope
Bryan Marquez, who left Venezuela two years ago, struggled to contain his emotions. "We suffered under them. The economic situation was bad, there was insecurity," he said in Spanish, describing the hardships that drove millions to emigrate.
Many credited US President Donald Trump for Maduro's removal. "He's really helped us," Marquez added. "I don't know what to say, except thank you."
"Venezuela is one of the world's richest countries, in resources. They [the US] are going to go in, restart the industry. The oil alone is worth billions, or trillions."
Luis Atristain, Miami-born Venezuelan American
Uncertainty over Venezuela's future
Trump's Saturday press conference deepened confusion. He announced the US would "run" Venezuela through "a team working with the people of Venezuela," without clarifying the extent of involvement.
Ana Maria, a Doral resident, said: "I don't know what that means. We will see. But for now, we're just glad Maduro is gone."
Opposition leader María Corina Machado's exclusion from Trump's remarks also drew skepticism. Mateos rejected any role for Maduro allies like Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez. "We support Machado and Edmundo González," she said, citing their electoral mandate.
Doubts persist amid celebrations
Elkin, a local marketing professional, questioned whether Machado, Rodríguez, or González could govern effectively. "Donald Trump will have to do it for now," he said, predicting a US-led transition.
Marquez echoed concerns about Rodríguez's ties to the old regime. "They haven't struggled like we have," he said, as the crowd's festivities continued into the evening.
