Democracy is built on self-determination, sovereignty, and accountable institutions, not on foreign military force.
(Milwaukee, January 6th, 2026)—Voces de la Frontera recognizes that the Venezuelan people have endured years of political repression, economic hardship, and the systematic silencing of political opposition under the rule of Nicolás Maduro. It is understandable and valid that many Venezuelans welcome the end of his hold on power and continue to seek a peaceful transition shaped by the will of the people.
At the same time, the U.S. armed operation in Venezuela must be clearly and unequivocally rejected.
“The fact that Maduro governed in authoritarian ways does not give the United States the right to invade another country, bomb civilian areas or fishermen, or decide the future of a sovereign nation,” said Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera. “Democracy is rooted in self-determination and sovereignty. The US military action in Venezuela is criminal, without authorization of the U.S. Congress and in violation of international and national law. Trump’s true intentions are not about building democracy in Venezuela, but a naked power grab to steal oil and mineral resources for the benefit of oil corporations and private military companies. Trump made an explicit warning to Latin America of the intention of the U.S. to escalate the war in the hemisphere for the sake of corporate interests. This only weakens democratic norms at home and abroad.
Congress must do its job. The public must demand that our elected leaders stop this administration’s criminal attacks on families here and abroad. The American people want leaders to prioritize healthcare, housing, and education over the disgraceful misuse of billions of public dollars for militarism and a racist campaign of terror against immigrants and people of color,” Neumann-Ortiz added.
The Venezuelan people deserve self-determination, dignity, and the right to shape their own political future, free from repression and free from foreign domination. In the US, they deserve to be protected from deportation to torture prisons in El Salvador or unsafe conditions in their home country. They, like millions of other immigrants, deserve to be treated with dignity and granted a path to citizenship.
Voces de la Frontera stands in solidarity with the people of Venezuela and with all communities demanding an end to authoritarianism and an end to imperial violence.
