The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is a South American country with a population of over 31 million inhabitants. Caracas is the nation's capital and largest city.

Tensions between the US and Venezuela are on the rise after President Donald Trump's administration launched a deadly raid on Caracas and abducted President Nicolás Maduro in January 2026. Along with his wife Cilia Flores, Maduro is currently incarcerated in New York, where he is facing US federal drug trafficking charges. He has pleaded not guilty. 

Since Maduro's removal, Delcy Rodríguez has served as Venezuela's interim president. The government has made moves to open the country's oil and mining sectors to foreign investment amid US pressure, all while rejecting Trump's "51st state" threats.

Meanwhile in the US, Trump continues to pursue his extreme anti-immigrant agenda, including toward Venezuelan nationals. His administration has sought to end Temporary Protected Status for Venezuela and sparked outrage for deporting hundreds of Venezuelans to a notorious detention center in El Salvador.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been slammed for continuing to try to deport people to Venezuela even after the country suffered back-to-back earthquakes in June 2026 that resulted in thousands of deaths.

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