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.<\/p>\n
Suddenly, the stuffed arepas began to taste better, joropo sounds turned louder and the outlook became optimistic.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe couldn\u2019t believe it,\u201d said Laudy Ibarra, a longtime educator and resident on Key Biscayne, who checked her phone early Saturday after having a difficult time falling asleep. \u201cThe first post I saw was from the Islander News saying that Venezuela was being attacked by air. After that, the news didn\u2019t stop, and by 7 a.m., reports were saying that the DEA and the U.S. government had (Nicol\u00e1s) Maduro and his wife in custody.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe day we had all been waiting for had finally arrived.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Laudy Ibarra walks to The Golden Hog draped in her Venezuela flag.<\/p>\n
Photo by Justo Rey<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wanted to visibly show our gratitude to the United States for the fight for freedom and democracy.\u201d Gonzalez told Islander News.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been waiting 26 years for this day,\u201d Tello said<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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 “\u00a1Viva la libertad!”<\/p>\n
Back on Key Biscayne, Ibarra decided to join Gonzalez and his wife only after seeing proof of Maduro\u2019s capture, when the U.S. released photos of the Venezuelan president handcuffed by U.S. forces.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce I did, I knew I had to go,\u201d she said, adding that she felt relief. \u201cI went to The Golden Hog to celebrate because the hope I had lost suddenly came back (and) felt hope again for freedom for Venezuelans.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ibarra was pleased to see supporters from many other countries at The Golden Hog \u201ccongratulating us, standing with us, and celebrating together. It was beautiful.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you to The Golden Hog for opening its doors and creating a space where our community could come together in unity, emotion and hope.\u201d<\/p>\n
Key Biscayne resident and realtor Marisela Servat said, \u201cAs 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith unity, perseverance and faith, Venezuelans will continue moving forward until that dream becomes reality.\u201d<\/p>\n
Longtime Island resident Tony Camejo, a native of Venezuela, said, \u201cThe Trump Administration has upheld America\u2019s historic role as a defender of freedom and protector of the American people by bringing to justice Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, the head of an oppressive criminal narco-regime.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Jorge Gonzalez keeps the celebration going.<\/p>\n
Photo by Justo Rey<\/p>\n
While admitting the transition will be challenging, Camejo thinks Saturday\u2019s event marks \u201ca pivotal step toward renewed freedom in Venezuela and potential democratic shifts across Latin America.\u201d<\/p>\n
Local realtor Irene Rojas said that after the last 25 years of Chavista dictatorship, \u201cthe Venezuelan heart beats differently.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs 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,\u201d Rojas said, adding her \u201cdeep gratitude, admiration and respect\u201d for those involved in Saturday\u2019s complex operation.<\/p>\n
She also took time to mention Nobel Prize winner Maria Corina Machado. \u201cThank you to Mar\u00eda Corina for bringing us here. What an honor! Your strength, consistency and persistence inspire us all.\u201d<\/p>\n
A different perspective was offered by Victoria Yachts owner Rafael M. Tarau, who, due to his family\u2019s history, felt he is the least qualified person to comment on the possible capture of Maduro, saying that \u201cmy opinion may sound strong or controversial, but it\u2019s sincere; Venezuela has become a waiting room without hope. it will take decades to see real change, in every sense.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Local restaurateur and Venezuelan native Antonio Braschi, owner of Costa Med Bistro + Wine and Kazumi, offered his unique perspective.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do not know for sure what the future holds for Venezuela after today,\u201d Braschi said Saturday morning. \u201cToday was a good day. We will wait to see what happens, but whatever the future holds, it will be without Maduro.\u201d<\/p>\n
As Rojas mentioned, \u201cIt\u2019s not just joy; it\u2019s a lump in the throat for everything that was lost and a light for what may return.\u201d<\/p>\n
While she resides on Key Biscayne, Ibarra never doubted the resolve and commitment of the Venezuelan people.<\/p>\n
\u201cDistance 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
As for what\u2019s next, Ibarra is realistic.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Waking up last Saturday morning to the news that Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and his wife were captured…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":108898,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[55712,36467,55709,55711,126,55707,39064,8877,5880,8878,55713,55710,123,125,124,4389,55715,55714,4945,4390,55708],"class_list":{"0":"post-108897","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-miami","8":"tag-antonio-braschi","9":"tag-dea","10":"tag-irene-rojas","11":"tag-jorge-gonzalez","12":"tag-key-biscayne","13":"tag-laudy-ibarra","14":"tag-maduro","15":"tag-marco-rubio","16":"tag-maria-corina-machado","17":"tag-maria-elvira-salazar","18":"tag-mariana-tello","19":"tag-marisela-servat","20":"tag-miami","21":"tag-miami-headlines","22":"tag-miami-news","23":"tag-nicolas-maduro","24":"tag-rafael-m-tarau","25":"tag-tony-camejo","26":"tag-trump-administration","27":"tag-venezuela","28":"tag-victoria-yachts"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108897","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=108897"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108897\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/108898"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=108897"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=108897"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=108897"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}