Venezuelans in Philadelphia React to Capture of Nicolás Maduro, Uncertain Future Ahead

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) – The future of Venezuela remains uncertain, but for many Venezuelans living abroad, Saturday marked a moment of relief and reflection following the reported capture of longtime leader Nicolás Maduro.

Two women living in Philadelphia say the news stirred emotions shaped by years of hardship, fear, and sacrifice that ultimately forced them to flee their home country in search of safety and opportunity.

For Agatha Casillas, leaving Venezuela felt like the only path forward.

“There wasn’t really a way out except for leaving,” Casillas said.

As conditions worsened under Maduro’s rule, Casillas described daily life as increasingly unbearable.

“The shortages of food, water, electricity, not being able to progress no matter how much money you make,” she said.

Now living in the U.S., Casillas hopes to one day return to visit friends and family, but experts say Venezuela’s future is far from clear.

John Kennedy, a political science professor at West Chester University, says Maduro’s capture raises as many questions as it answers.

“It does leave open a lot of questions as far as the future is concerned, both for Venezuela and for foreign policy,” Kennedy said.

Those questions intensified after President Donald Trump said Saturday that the United States would temporarily oversee Venezuela and tap its vast oil reserves to sell to other nations.

Anuj Gupta, president of the Welcoming Center in Philadelphia, expressed concern about what that could mean for Venezuelans both abroad and in the U.S.

“What does that mean for the people of Venezuela?” Gupta asked. “Are we just replacing one dictator with another failed form of government?”

Gupta also worries about how U.S. policy decisions could affect Venezuelans who have already built lives in the U.S.

“To start sending back people of Venezuelan origin who are here in the U.S., who have built lives, who have built careers,” he said.

“I just hope that this is not a pretext for that kind of action.”

Valentina Viana was born and raised in Venezuela before fleeing the unrest and settling in the U.S. in 2016. She says she’s relieved by the news.

“We are very happy that Maduro is out of the regime,” Viana said.

A Venezuelan flag hangs outside her Fishtown home. While she plans to remain in the U.S. where she has lived since 2016, Viana hopes to eventually return to Venezuela to visit family.

“Hopefully this is the beginning of the end and the beginning of a peaceful transition,” she said.

Sunday marks Viana’s eight-year anniversary living in Philadelphia. She says she’s hopeful that once conditions stabilize, she’ll finally be able to travel home again.