Venezuela’s opposition leader Maria Corina Machado wrote an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal two months ago that still haunts me with this line:
“I am writing this from hiding, fearing for my life, my freedom, and that of my fellow countrymen from the dictatorship led by Nicolás Maduro.”[1]
For context, in October 2023, Venezuela's government, led by Nicolás Maduro, and the main opposition alliance signed the Barbados Agreement. They agreed to open and fair elections in 2024 with independent international observers. In response, the U.S. eased certain sanctions on Venezuela’s oil and gas industry but warned they would be reinstated if Maduro failed to uphold the agreement. By April 2024, the U.S. reimposed some sanctions, citing Venezuela's failure to meet its commitments, including banning opposition leader María Corina Machado and another candidate from running for president.[2] In the election, opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez reportedly won by a wide margin, securing 67% of the vote, including traditional Maduro strongholds. However, Maduro’s government disputed the results and falsely claimed a 51% victory for Maduro.[3]
There are an overwhelming number of issues to care about in the world, with the war in Israel and Ukraine. Additionally, an isolationist message of America First appeals to many who feel left behind and want to see a government that puts their interests first. However, this approach is short-sighted, and we should learn from our history that being involved in world affairs is in our best interest.
We should care about Venezuela on a humanitarian front and for our self-interest. More than 40% of Venezuelans indicated they would consider leaving the country if Maduro stayed in power.[4] In a country of 28.3 million, that could be a mass exodus of 5-10 million people. Most of these immigrants would go to countries close to Venezuela, which would certainly lead to an influx in the United States. According to Pew Research “From 2000 to 2021, the Venezuelan-origin population increased 592%, growing from 95,000 to 640,000”.[5] Just between January and June 2024 US Customs and Border Protection reported 114,695 encounters and asylum claims by Venezuelans.[6]
I would like to preface that I strongly believe we are a nation of immigrants, and false anti-immigrant messages (that they increase crime, or more outlandishly, that they eat dogs) are not only harmful and untrue but are un-American.[7] [8]At the same time, we must face the reality that unregulated migration is taking a toll on the ability of our cities to serve their communities, and it places immigrants in inhumane conditions where they are often exploited. We should continue the policy of providing Temporary Protected Status to Venezuelans who seek political asylum to allow them to get a job and a home, which eases the pressure on communities to support them and allows immigrants to support themselves.
We should also seek to understand the root causes of the systemic immigration issue. Most often it is conflict, often caused by economic failure, state repression, gang violence, or as in Venezuela, a combination of all three. If we want less illegal immigration in the US, we should seek to prevent conflict in our neighboring countries and create diplomatic solutions that allow people to have a future in their own countries. Most people entering this country likely did not want to leave their homes but were forced to for their or their children’s survival. In support of this claim, in a recent poll of Venezuelan immigrants from several countries, more than 65% of Venezuelans said they would go back to their country if the opposition wins this year’s presidential elections.[9] If we can prevent the need for mass emigration from Venezuela by facilitating political stability there, we benefit Americans and Venezuelans.
A better, more humane, more American solution that is better for our interests and Venezuela’s interests is to continue to pressure Maduro’s brutal regime with a coalition of other countries, including Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. I echo Maria Corina Machado’s plea that Venezuelans have done their part in attempting to vote out Maduro.[10] Now it is up to the US and its allies to reject Maduro’s false assertions of victory and continue to isolate and pressure his administration through sanctions and collective international pressure through existing international organizations such as the United Nations and the Organization of American States. Venezuelans deserve better.
