Venezuelan immigrants in Doral, 'Little Venezuela,' are reacting with bittersweetness to opposition leader Maria Corina Machado's Nobel Peace Prize win. While celebrating her recognition, they face imminent deportation threats as the Trump administration ended protections, and Machado's alignment with Trump offers little hope for their U.S. status.
The Venezuelan community in Doral, Florida, known as 'Little Venezuela,' is experiencing a mix of joy and apprehension following opposition leader Maria Corina Machado's Nobel Peace Prize win. While celebrating her recognition for efforts to achieve democracy in Venezuela, many are acutely aware of the looming threat of deportation. The Trump administration has ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and humanitarian parole programs, which previously allowed over 700,000 Venezuelans to live and work legally in the U.S., putting them at risk. This comes amidst a massive exodus of over 7.7 million Venezuelans since 2014 due to political and economic instability, with over 1 million settling in the U.S. The bittersweet sentiment stems from Machado's strong alignment with former President Donald Trump's Venezuela policy. She dedicated her prize to 'the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause!' Despite previously stating her team was seeking 'effective protection' for law-abiding Venezuelans after Trump announced the end of TPS, she expressed no further concerns about progress on this front after the Supreme Court upheld the program's termination. Prominent Venezuelan Americans in Doral expressed mixed views. Frank Carreño, former president of the Venezuelan American Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the Nobel news but cautioned that Machado would not pressure Trump to protect Venezuelans in the U.S., stating, 'She sees the United States government as part of her strategy to restore democracy to Venezuela... She’s in that camp, not in this camp.' José Antonio Colina, a retired Venezuelan military officer and refugee, viewed the award as a significant recognition of Machado's fight for democracy, hoping it would help remove Nicolás Maduro from power. Iris Wilthew, a Venezuelan American retiree, was surprised by the lack of public celebration in Doral despite Machado's 'tireless' efforts. The article highlights the complex emotions and political realities faced by Venezuelan immigrants in the U.S.
