South Florida Venezuelans Divided Over U.S. Military Buildup and the Future of Maduro

As the United States increases its military presence in the Caribbean and carries out airstrikes on vessels, Venezuelans living in South Florida are sharply divided over how Washington should proceed with regard to President Nicolás Maduro.

A community split

Many in the local diaspora long for a new leader to replace Maduro after years of economic collapse and political turmoil that have driven hundreds of thousands to leave Venezuela. While there is broad rejection of Chavismo and the Maduro government, opinions differ sharply on whether foreign military intervention is an acceptable path to change.

Some residents believe force may be the only realistic option after Maduro declared himself president again in 2024 in elections widely deemed fraudulent by the opposition and many foreign governments. Others worry about the heavy civilian toll of any conflict and argue that all diplomatic and political avenues should be exhausted first.

Military moves and skepticism

The U.S. deployed a major carrier strike group and other naval assets to the region, and U.S. officials have characterized some actions as targeting "narcoterrorists." Still, many Venezuelans question whether counter-narcotics goals are the true driver of renewed U.S. interest in the strategically important oil-producing country.

At the same time, attitudes toward U.S. leadership are complicated by domestic immigration policies that have affected Venezuelan migrants in the United States. Changes to immigration enforcement and to temporary protections for some Venezuelans have strained families and soured parts of the community on Washington.

Voices from Doral

In Doral, near Miami — a city where a substantial share of residents trace their roots to Venezuela — views vary.

"If there's one common sentiment among all Venezuelans, it's the hatred we have toward Chavismo and Maduro," said Andrea Gonzalez, 38, capturing the widespread frustration within the diaspora.

Some, like 47-year-old interior designer Diana Gonzalez, support a full intervention to remove what she calls a corrupt and repressive government. She said peaceful attempts have failed and that force may be the only remaining option.

"We can't go on alone because it's an unfair fight between people with flags and people with weapons," Diana Gonzalez said. "No one in Venezuela will fight for the regime."

She envisions a post-Maduro government led by opposition figure María Corina Machado, whom she described as a prominent opposition leader reportedly living in hiding.

Others urge caution. Carmen, 66, who left Venezuela in 2020, called military intervention a "double-edged sword."

"If Maduro falls, it would be wonderful," she said. "But if that happens, there will be many deaths. A war would be a catastrophe for ordinary Venezuelans."

Human cost and political calculus

Migrant-rights activist Adelys Ferro said she doubts Washington's motives and balances political aims against human costs. She urged leveraging international pressure to force a peaceful transition rather than risking a military confrontation that could devastate communities inside Venezuela.

"In the midst of our desperation and desire for freedom, we have minimized what a war means," Ferro said. "I can't put my desire to see my mother again above the lives of Venezuelans."

Within the diaspora, the debate is also shaped by tensions over U.S. domestic policy. Some Venezuelans resent immigration raids and changes to temporary protections, while others say they would be more forgiving if the U.S. helped remove Maduro. Those competing priorities make the community's response to any U.S. action unpredictable.

Whatever unfolds, the divide in South Florida highlights the painful trade-offs facing a population torn between the desire for immediate change in Caracas and the fear of large-scale human suffering that could follow a military confrontation.