South Florida leaders react after Venezuela's Maduro is captured; Cuba and Colombia push back

South Florida and international leaders reacted swiftly Saturday after President Donald Trump said Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro was captured and flown out of Venezuela following U.S. military action.

Trump announced the development in an early-morning Truth Social post, saying the United States had carried out "a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader," with U.S. law enforcement involved.

Maduro has been under indictment in the U.S. since 2020 on narcoterrorism charges.

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said the end of Maduro's rule is a critical moment for Venezuelans in South Florida, while cautioning that what happens next is deeply important.

"For too long, the brutal Maduro regime and its dictatorship have silenced the Venezuelan people and avoided real consequences," Levine Cava said in a statement, noting that Miami-Dade's Venezuelan community is closely watching in hopes of peaceful, democratic change.

Levine Cava raised concerns about the U.S. military action, saying acting without congressional approval or bipartisan briefings sets a troubling precedent and leaves uncertainty about the administration's next steps.

She also criticized the Trump administration's immigration policies affecting Venezuelans, including the end of Temporary Protected Status, saying many families who fled political persecution should not be denied legal pathways to safety.

"My heart has been and will always be with our Venezuelan brothers and sisters," Levine Cava said, adding that she is praying for innocent lives and for Venezuela's return to democracy.

City of Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins

Newly elected Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins said the developments in Venezuela have sparked emotional reactions across the city, particularly among Miami's large Venezuelan community, which she said has waited decades for a moment of hope.

"Last night's developments in Venezuela have prompted celebration and strong emotions within our community, particularly among our Venezuelan neighbors who have waited decades for a moment of hope," Higgins said in a statement.

She said the City of Miami stands in solidarity with Venezuelans during what she described as a historic time, adding that as residents gather in peaceful celebration, Miami Police Department is prepared to protect public safety and safeguard the freedoms that define the city.

Higgins also criticized the earlier elimination of Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans, calling the move reckless and dangerous, and said ongoing instability in Venezuela makes clear the country remains unsafe for people to return.

"This is not just a matter of policy—it is a matter of basic human dignity and safety," Higgins said, as she urged Mr. Trump to immediately reinstate TPS for Venezuelan residents who have built lives in Miami while their homeland works toward stability.

Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz

Cordero-Stutz called the capture of Maduro a moment of hope for Venezuelans and for communities impacted by transnational crime, including South Florida.

"Today marks a powerful moment of hope for the Venezuelan people and for all who believe in justice, accountability, and the rule of law," Cordero-Stutz said in a statement, pointing to years of corruption, criminal networks and narco-terrorism that she said have destabilized Venezuela and affected communities across the hemisphere.

Cordero-Stutz praised Mr. Trump for what she described as decisive leadership, crediting the administration with prioritizing accountability over appeasement in confronting criminal regimes tied to violence and corruption.

She noted that Miami-Dade is home to one of the largest Venezuelan communities in the United States, made up of families who fled oppression and rebuilt their lives locally. Cordero-Stutz said the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office remains committed to public safety, the rule of law and protecting communities affected by transnational crime, adding that justice and accountability must prevail.

U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart

In an X post, U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart called the operation an example of decisive leadership and framed Maduro as a long-standing national security threat to the United States.

Diaz-Balart said the Maduro regime had fueled drug trafficking into the U.S., enabled violent criminal organizations such as Tren de Aragua and the Cartel de los Soles, kidnapped Americans, and aligned itself with U.S. adversaries including Iran, China, Russia, Cuba, Hezbollah and Hamas. He praised Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and U.S. armed forces for what he described as resolute action after years of inaction.

U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez

U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez thanked Trump for what he described as strong leadership and applauded U.S. service members involved in the operation.

Gimenez called the military action "stellar" and credited American forces for carrying it out successfully.

"Thank you President Trump for your leadership & resolve and to our brave service members who have conducted a stellar military operation," Gimenez said in a statement.

U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar

U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar declared an end to what she called the "narco-terror" imposed by the Maduro regime.

Salazar credited Trump and Rubio with restoring hope for Venezuela's future and said the country's rightful leaders should now move to rebuild the nation and restore freedom. She framed the moment as a broader turning point for the hemisphere, closing her statement with "¡Viva la libertad!"

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, co-chair of the Congressional Venezuela Democracy Caucus, called the capture of Maduro welcome news for Venezuelans who fled what she described as his violent and illegitimate rule, including many living in South Florida.

Wasserman Schultz cautioned, however, that Maduro's capture alone does not guarantee lasting change, warning that Venezuela risks continued instability without a clear transition to democracy and the rule of law. She said the moment should open the door for Venezuelans to install their democratically elected president, Edmundo Gonzalez, and stressed the need for accountability surrounding the operation.

She also raised concerns about the lack of congressional involvement prior to the action, saying bypassing Congress and the American public could undermine efforts to permanently dismantle the illegitimate Venezuelan regime.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a South Florida native, rejected Maduro's legitimacy outright, saying Maduro is not Venezuela's president and does not represent a lawful government.

Rubio described Maduro as the head of the Cartel de los Soles, which he characterized as a narco-terror organization that has seized control of the country, and pointed to Maduro's U.S. indictment for drug trafficking into the United States.

Cuba and Colombia react to Maduro's capture

Leaders in Cuba and Colombia condemned the U.S. military action described by Mr. Trump, warning of regional instability and calling for international intervention and de-escalation.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez denounced the strikes as an urgent matter for the global community, accusing the United States of what he described as "state terrorism" against Venezuela and the broader region. In a statement posted on social media, Díaz-Canel said Cuba demands an immediate international response, warning that Latin America's long-standing designation as a "zone of peace" was under direct assault.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said his government was observing the situation with "deep concern" following reports of explosions and unusual aerial activity in Venezuela. Petro emphasized Colombia's commitment to the United Nations Charter, including respect for national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

Petro said Colombia rejects any unilateral military action that could escalate tensions or endanger civilians, calling instead for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomatic engagement. He added that Colombia has implemented preventive measures to protect civilians and maintain stability along the Colombian-Venezuelan border, while remaining prepared to address potential humanitarian or migratory impacts in coordination with local authorities and international organizations.

Colombia's Foreign Ministry, Petro said, will keep diplomatic channels open and push for objective verification of events through multilateral and regional forums, reiterating that peace, international law and the protection of human life must prevail over armed confrontation.

• Nicolas Maduro
• Venezuela
• South Florida
• Marco Rubio
• Colombia
• Donald Trump