In addition to economic challenges and opportunities tied to Venezuelan migration, the region’s geopolitics are in upheaval following a dramatic U.S. military operation in early January 2026: Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured in Caracas by U.S. forces and flown to New York, where he now faces federal criminal charges including narcotics and terrorism allegations. President Donald Trump has publicly justified the operation as law enforcement and stated intentions to influence Venezuela’s future political transition, even suggesting the U.S. might “run the country” during that process.

Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s vice president, was declared interim president in Caracas, but real power remains contested amid ongoing diplomatic and legal clashes, while opposition leader María Corina Machado has drawn international attention through symbolic acts with U.S. officials as part of a broader struggle over Venezuela’s leadership.