Venezuela in Crisis: Maduro’s Capture Brings Division and Hope 

REPORTER: 

Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez gathers with supporters near the capital Caracas. It’s been just a week since a US operation captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro—taking him to New York to face charges, including narco-terror. Rodriguez is in a tight spot—with US President Donald Trump saying she must cooperate. Rodriguez has said Venezuela will respond to the US with diplomacy. But she’s also rallying Venezuelans around the flag. 

Delcy Rodriguez (ACTING PRESIDENT):   

In defense of our homeland's peace we are uniting all of Venezuela all Venezuelans to reject the vile and criminal attack of January 3 and to condemn that our head of state President Nicolas Maduro has been kidnapped. 

REPORTER: 

Many Venezuelans—especially the millions exiled since Maduro came to power—have celebrated Maduro’s removal after years of poverty and worsening human rights in their country. 

But protests demanding Maduro’s return show he also has supporters. And it isn’t just about politics: Trump has said the US is taking control of Venezuela’s oil reserves—the largest in the world. 

Delcy Rodriguez (ACTING PRESIDENT):   

Our oil belongs to Venezuela it belongs to Venezuela not to any foreign country and as Venezuelans we will continue fighting. And if they come for our benefit they will be welcomed to our country but we won't let ourselves be intimidated by anyone nor give away what belongs to us as Venezuelans. 

REPORTER: 

Amid the turmoil, there are also pockets of quiet relief. Outside El Rodeo Prison near Caracas, relatives of political prisoners wait, hoping their loved ones will soon be released. 

Human rights groups and the Venezuelan opposition have long demanded the release of hundreds they deem political prisoners. Since Maduro’s capture, Venezuela has released at least 18 opposition figures—though there’s no official list of how many will be released in total. 

Trump celebrated the first releases in a social media post. Both he and Jorge Rodriguez—the brother of Venezuela’s acting president—say the releases are a gesture of peace: a rare point of agreement between the two sides. 

Among those waiting for news is Lorealber Gutierrez. Her mother, brother, partner, aunt and cousin have all been held since post-election protests in 2024. 

Lorealber Gutierrez:   

I have faith that they will leave that place. We will all be united as we were. That's what I want most. I would like to be with my brother who I hadn't seen for four years and he came to spend a vacation and they took him away. 

REPORTER: 

These families hope that after everything that’s happened in the past week, a new, better chapter will at least open in their lives. Even as their country looks ahead into the unknown.