Venezuelan President Maduro Captured In U.S. Military Operation

President Trump Sent U.S. Forces To Caracas Without Congressional Approval

Sophia Smith, Associate Editor • January 12, 2026

The capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has made an impact on many Americans and Venezuelans in an unprecedented move against congressional and international law.

Jan. 3, 2025, U.S. forces were sent to Caracas, Venezuela, the country’s capitol, to capture their President Nicolas Maduro.

Maduro has been president of Venezuela since 2013. He has claimed victory in Venezuela’s 2018 and 2024 elections, however ABC News stated in a recent article that Maduro in those two elections “usurped power” according to Venezuela’s National Assembly in 2019, and “more than 50 countries, including the U.S., do not recognize him as the legitimate leader of Venezuela, according to the State Department,” said Meredith Deliso, ABC News correspondent.

Maduro along with other Venezuelan government officials are alleged to have been involved with heavy drug trafficking schemes to benefit themselves and their loyal friends and family. There is little evidence to support these claims.

During the 2020 Trump administration, Maduro was charged by the Justice Department for deploying cocaine, Deliso stated, “The indictment alleged that while the foreign minister of Venezuela, Maduro was paid millions in drug proceeds in connection with a money-laundering scheme that was part of the narco-terrorism conspiracy.”

On Jan. 3, President Trump issued a U.S. Operation in Venezuela to capture President Maduro and his wife, bringing them back to the U.S. where they would then be tried for drug trafficking.

During this U.S Operation, U.S. forces raided Caracas and exchanged fire with Venezuelan air forces. According to USA Today, fighter and bomber jets were used to raid target cities. Maduro and his wife were captured then brought back to a detention facility in Brooklyn, New York.

U.S. government officials have assessed the death toll for this raid. Dan Lamothe, Washington News Post correspondent shared, “75 people were killed during Saturday’s military raid […] and then around a half dozen U.S. troops were injured in the operation.”

The Venezuelan Vice President, Delcy Rodriguez, has been sworn in as interim president.

The Venezuelan Opposition Party and many other individuals are grateful for President Trump’s actions as now Maduro’s tyrant reign has ended.

However, repression has intensified in Venezuela. The New York Times reported that individuals who openly support the U.S.’s actions are being detained and/or arrested. This also includes any foreign reporters in Venezuela reporting on the capturing of Maduro.

Additionally, Venezuela has gone into a state of emergency which is limiting civilian liberties.

On the domestic end of this operation, many U.S. government officials are criticizing President Trump for capturing Maduro because he did so without congressional approval. The United Nations have publicly warned President Trump and Congress as this can cause global conflict. President Trump broke international law by raiding Caracas.

Following the capturing of Maduro, President Trump has publicly stated that he expects Venezuela to turn over “30 to 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the U.S” according to Jordan Timerman, a Latin America Daily Briefing reporter.

Trump would exploit Venezuela’s rich oil through threats of a naval blockade.

Many U.S. government officials fear that this plan to extract oil from Venezuela will cause further global issues and disrupt international agreements that have previously been made.

See further viewpoints on this U.S. operation from members of the Brunswick community.

Brunswick Student Opinions On The Capturing Of Nicolas Maduro

Lucy Caulton, '27

Some people say it’s justified to capture a leader accused of crimes; others say it violates international norms. Which side do you agree with and why? "I'm indifferent. Yes, the Venezuelan leader is an accused criminal and dictator, and he should be held accountable. Unfortunately, it's a given that when you take a leader out of its position, it means leaving the country in uncertainty."

Do you think this was the right decision by the United States? Why or why not? "I don't believe it was the greatest decision ever made, no. For the long run everything might turn out fine, but that's exactly the problem, it's the start of something bigger."

How are you personally impacted by this event, if not how do you thinks others are impacted? "I don't feel personally affected, but I know others are. It is a unfortunate situation because it will lead to future issues dealing with resources and transferring of political power."
Josiah Nunez, '26

Some people say it’s justified to capture a leader accused of crimes; others say it violates international norms. Which side do you agree with and why? "I think that on a legal standpoint it does violate international norms. But in a moral sense, I feel that it was the right thing to do. I agree with this capture because Maduro cost so much harm in Central and South America, not only Venezuela."

Do you think this was the right decision by the United States? Why or why not? "I feel like this decision can be interpreted by either side that's right or wrong. I believe that the intentions are the big factor in determining if this was the right decision or not."

How are you personally impacted by this event, if not how do you thinks others are impacted? "This personally affects me because I am Latino and can understand what both sides are saying. This influence is my decision to lean towards the U.S. for supporting my fellow Latino people."
Lena Butler, '27

Some people say it’s justified to capture a leader accused of crimes; others say it violates international norms. Which side do you agree with and why? "I believe in this instance, capturing a leader who was accused of crimes is justified. To Venezuelans, Maduro was known as a socialist dictator, not a president. He was also a known leader as a major drug trafficking regime that eventually has harmed many Americans."

Do you think this was the right decision by the United States? Why or why not? "I do believe this was the correct decision."

How are you personally impacted by this event, if not how do you thinks others are impacted? "I don't think I am directly impacted by this event however others and the country as a whole are positively impacted. Venezuelans will now have access to fair and safe elections, the number of drugs coming through borders will decrease, and of course prices will go down with the newfound source of oil."
Grant Hough, '26

Some people say it’s justified to capture a leader accused of crimes; others say it violates international norms. Which side do you agree with and why? "It is completely justifiable to capture a leader who is drug trafficking into the United States of America and is ruining the lives of the very citizens who he has sworn to protect."

Do you think this was the right decision by the United States? Why or why not? "Yes, this was the right decision by the United States, and the Monroe Doctrine justifies the United States' actions."

How are you personally impacted by this event, if not how do you thinks others are impacted? "I think others are personally impacted in a positive way because people in Venezuela are praising Donald Trump and the United States for capturing Madura."

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