Venezuelan leaders commend U.S. action against gang violence

Venezuelan opposition leaders, María Corina Machado and Edmundo González, praised the recent actions by the United States and Chile against the Tren de Aragua gang. They welcomed the crackdown on this dangerous group but urged both countries to protect honest Venezuelan migrants. In a joint statement, they called on U.S. and Chilean authorities to ensure that innocent Venezuelans are not wrongly punished. They stressed the importance of differentiating between gang members and the vast majority of migrants who are fleeing violence and hardship caused by Nicolás Maduro’s regime. Machado and González asked both nations to provide refuge to Venezuelan migrants, helping them until they can safely return home. They pointed out that most Venezuelans in the U.S. and Chile are honest citizens forced to leave due to a criminal government. Their comments followed President Donald Trump's recent order to expedite the deportation of Venezuelans linked to the Tren de Aragua gang. This order allows U.S. authorities to act quickly, often without giving individuals a chance to defend themselves in court. The opposition leaders emphasized that it is Maduro and his officials who control the gang and that they must be held accountable. They called for strong action against those who have harmed Venezuela and caused suffering abroad.