Trump Celebrated Victory in Venezuela. Will That Bring Its People Back?
Venezuelan migrants initially celebrated the U.S.-led removal of Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026, but most remain hesitant to return due to persistent economic collapse and political instability. Despite hopes for reunification and relief, the ruling party remains in power, leaving many in the diaspora—nearly eight million strong—unconvinced that conditions have improved enough for a safe return.
The U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026, sparked brief optimism among Venezuelan migrants across South America, many of whom had fled economic collapse and repression under his rule. Yanitze Gutiérrez, a migrant in Uruguay, immediately declared her intention to return, while others in Buenos Aires and Santiago expressed similar hopes, with some Venezuelan grocery stores seeing frenzied demand as clients rushed to prepare for a potential homecoming. However, the initial euphoria faded as the reality of Maduro’s removal—leaving the ruling party in power—settled in, with no significant migration back to Venezuela reported in the weeks following the operation." "Nearly eight million Venezuelans, roughly a quarter of the country’s population, have fled over the past 11 years, creating one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. Most settled in South America, with nearly seven million in Colombia, Peru, and Brazil, where they filled labor market gaps but also faced backlash in some countries, including the U.S., where migration became a political issue. Greces Vicuña, who left Venezuela in 2018 after being jailed for antigovernment protests, remains skeptical about returning, citing unresolved economic and political problems. A U.N. survey from February 2026 found only 9% of Venezuelans in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Guatemala, and Chile planned to return within a year." "Many migrants had hoped Maduro’s removal would signal broader change, including family reunification and relief from fear, but the U.S. intervention left the ruling party intact, deepening uncertainty. Maritza Durán, who fled Venezuela in 2022 with her grandchildren due to economic hardship, exemplifies the hesitation, as she and others question whether conditions have improved enough to justify returning. The lack of significant migration back to Venezuela suggests that, despite the operation’s military success, gradual improvements may not yet meet the expectations of those abroad.
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