Waking up last Saturday morning to the news that Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and his wife were captured and being brought to the U.S. to face criminal charges brought tears of happiness for the Latino American community, from Caracas to Key Biscayne.
Suddenly, the stuffed arepas began to taste better, joropo sounds turned louder and the outlook became optimistic.
“We couldn’t believe it,” said Laudy Ibarra, a longtime educator and resident on Key Biscayne, who checked her phone early Saturday after having a difficult time falling asleep. “The first post I saw was from the Islander News saying that Venezuela was being attacked by air. After that, the news didn’t stop, and by 7 a.m., reports were saying that the DEA and the U.S. government had (Nicolás) Maduro and his wife in custody.
“The day we had all been waiting for had finally arrived.”
Laudy Ibarra walks to The Golden Hog draped in her Venezuela flag.
Photo by Justo Rey
This sentiment was prevalent throughout the Key Biscayne community, especially at an impromptu, noon gathering at The Golden Hog. Early Saturday morning, owner Jorge Gonzalez and his wife, Mariana Tello, decided they needed to do something to share the joy they felt.
“We wanted to visibly show our gratitude to the United States for the fight for freedom and democracy.” Gonzalez told Islander News.
“We’ve been waiting 26 years for this day,” Tello said
U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, a resident of Key Biscayne, has appeared on various national news shows, declaring an end to what she called the “narco-terror” regime imposed by Maduro.
Salazar credited President Trump and Sen. Marco Rubio with restoring hope for Venezuela’s future, a momentous occasion that could lead to broader implications in the Western hemisphere, closing her initial statement with “¡Viva la libertad!”
Back on Key Biscayne, Ibarra decided to join Gonzalez and his wife only after seeing proof of Maduro’s capture, when the U.S. released photos of the Venezuelan president handcuffed by U.S. forces.
“Once I did, I knew I had to go,” she said, adding that she felt relief. “I went to The Golden Hog to celebrate because the hope I had lost suddenly came back (and) felt hope again for freedom for Venezuelans.”
Ibarra was pleased to see supporters from many other countries at The Golden Hog “congratulating us, standing with us, and celebrating together. It was beautiful.
“Thank you to The Golden Hog for opening its doors and creating a space where our community could come together in unity, emotion and hope.”
Key Biscayne resident and realtor Marisela Servat said, “As a Venezuelan, this moment touches the heart deeply. What feels like the capture of Maduro represents a step toward the freedom we have long prayed for, even knowing there is still a long road ahead.
“With unity, perseverance and faith, Venezuelans will continue moving forward until that dream becomes reality.”
Longtime Island resident Tony Camejo, a native of Venezuela, said, “The Trump Administration has upheld America’s historic role as a defender of freedom and protector of the American people by bringing to justice Nicolás Maduro, the head of an oppressive criminal narco-regime.
“The U.S. comes not to conquer and occupy, but rather to liberate the Venezuelan people from a regime that has stolen elections, trafficked deadly drugs, and forced millions into exile, decimating a once prosperous country.”
Jorge Gonzalez keeps the celebration going.
Photo by Justo Rey
While admitting the transition will be challenging, Camejo thinks Saturday’s event marks “a pivotal step toward renewed freedom in Venezuela and potential democratic shifts across Latin America.”
Local realtor Irene Rojas said that after the last 25 years of Chavista dictatorship, “the Venezuelan heart beats differently.”
“As an individual, I breathe relief. As a family, we remember all those of us who are outside and those who are still there. As a Venezuelan, I feel that our dignity is beginning to rise, along with immense happiness for the history that begins today, January 3, 2026,” Rojas said, adding her “deep gratitude, admiration and respect” for those involved in Saturday’s complex operation.
She also took time to mention Nobel Prize winner Maria Corina Machado. “Thank you to María Corina for bringing us here. What an honor! Your strength, consistency and persistence inspire us all.”
A different perspective was offered by Victoria Yachts owner Rafael M. Tarau, who, due to his family’s history, felt he is the least qualified person to comment on the possible capture of Maduro, saying that “my opinion may sound strong or controversial, but it’s sincere; Venezuela has become a waiting room without hope. it will take decades to see real change, in every sense.
“I come from Cuban parents who had everything taken from them twice in their lives, and from that experience, forming an opinion is not easy. In my family, there was no celebration or debate; it was simply one more piece of news about Venezuela.”
Local restaurateur and Venezuelan native Antonio Braschi, owner of Costa Med Bistro + Wine and Kazumi, offered his unique perspective.
“We do not know for sure what the future holds for Venezuela after today,” Braschi said Saturday morning. “Today was a good day. We will wait to see what happens, but whatever the future holds, it will be without Maduro.”
As Rojas mentioned, “It’s not just joy; it’s a lump in the throat for everything that was lost and a light for what may return.”
While she resides on Key Biscayne, Ibarra never doubted the resolve and commitment of the Venezuelan people.
“Distance has never broken our bond. Though scattered across the world, Venezuelans stand united in purpose, and hope committed to the long work of restoring the future of Venezuela,” she said.
As for what’s next, Ibarra is realistic.
“We know this is only the beginning of a long and difficult process, as restoring what was once a beautiful country will take time, sacrifice and unity,” she said.