New York leaders react to capture of Nicolás Maduro, who's now in NYC federal jail
New York City lawmakers are reacting to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is being held at a federal jail in Brooklyn after President Trump said he would be prosecuted in New York.
The U.S. military plane carrying Maduro landed at New York Stewart International Airport in Orange County early Saturday evening. The airport in the Hudson Valley is about 70 miles north of New York City. Maduro and his wife were then transported by helicopter to New York City for processing before being taken to the Metropolitan Detention Center.
The Venezuelan leader is expected to be arraigned next week, CBS News reports.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said New York State Police and other law enforcement partners were monitoring the situation and that there were no credible threats to the state.
"This morning I was briefed on the developments in Venezuela with Nicolás Maduro, following President Trump's flagrant abuse of power by acting without congressional approval. New York is home to a vibrant Venezuelan community, and I stand with families here and abroad in their hopes for a better, more stable future. While there are no credible threats to New York at this time, State Police are coordinating with our partners in law enforcement to monitor the situation and keep New Yorkers safe," Hochul said on X.
Travelers at airports in the New York City area were told to anticipate delays after the Federal Aviation Administration announced restrictions on flights from certain regions.
NYC Democrats criticize Trump after Maduro's capture
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he too is monitoring how the U.S. operation in Venezuela could impact New Yorkers.
"I was briefed this morning on the U.S. military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, as well as their planned imprisonment in federal custody here in New York City," Mamdani said. "Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and international law. This blatant pursuit of regime change doesn't just affect those abroad, it directly impacts New Yorkers, including tens of thousands of Venezuelans who call this city home. My focus is their safety and the safety of every New Yorker, and my administration will continue to monitor the situation and issue relevant guidance."
Mamdani said he expressed his opposition to Maduro's capture during a phone call with President Trump after he was briefed.
"Before defending a murderous narco terrorist, did it ever cross your mind why 8 million people—nearly equivalent to the population of NYC—fled the Maduro Marxist regime?" Republican Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis said in a post responding to the mayor. "Maybe ask some Venezuelan New Yorkers before you bring his failed socialist oppressive policies here."
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Maduro is "a criminal and authoritarian dictator who has oppressed the people of Venezuela for years. He is not the legitimate head of government. Undoubtedly, the rule of law and democracy have broken down in Venezuela and the people of that country deserve better."
Jeffries, of Brooklyn, said the military operation was not authorized by Congress. He demanded the House and Senate be briefed immediately and that the Trump administration present "compelling evidence to explain and justify this unauthorized use of military force."
"Donald Trump has the constitutional responsibility to follow the law and protect democratic norms in the United States. That is what putting America First requires," the Democratic leader said. "The promotion of security and stability in a region requires more than just military force as we painfully discovered in Iraq and Afghanistan."
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also questioned the Trump administration's motives for capturing Maduro, who it accuses of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism.
"It's not about drugs. If it was, Trump wouldn't have pardoned one of the largest narco traffickers in the world last month. It's about oil and regime change. And they need a trial now to pretend that it isn't. Especially to distract from Epstein + skyrocketing healthcare costs," the Democratic congresswoman wrote on X.
Congressman Adriano Espaillat, a Democrat who represents parts of Upper Manhattan and the Bronx, said on social media he opposes Maduro's regime, but believes the Trump administration skirted the constitution.
"While I strongly oppose the illegitimate regime of Nicolás Maduro, President Trump's military action was a serious constitutional violation. The U.S. Constitution explicitly grants Congress the authority to declare war and approval to conduct military action against a sovereign nation," Espaillat said. "The Trump Administration does not have sole authority to commit such acts, and I reaffirm my position that Congress must be fully informed before the U.S. engages in hostilities towards another nation. I urge for an immediate and full briefing for Members of Congress following ongoing developments in Venezuela and the subsequent long-term consequences in the region."
Congresswoman Yvette Clarke of Brooklyn accused the White House of kidnapping a sitting president "without Congressional approval and without consideration of any of the consequence."
"The Trump administration launched a large scale military attack on a sovereign nation and kidnapped its sitting president, without Congressional approval and without consideration of any of the consequences their illegal actions may bring," the Democratic lawmaker wrote on X. "This act of aggression is unconstitutional, un-American, and a direct threat to our democracy. We cannot stay silent while the rule of law is ignored."
Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman of Manhattan called Maduro's capture "an illegal act of war."
"Trump's unilateral operation last night was an illegal act of war without Congress's authorization. Maduro is a brutal dictator who has oppressed the Venezuelan people, but our constitution does not yield for bad people," Goldman wrote on X. "If Congress is to survive as an institution, the Republican majority must join us exercising our power to hold this administration accountable for this flagrant violation of the constitution."
Bondi says Maduro will face "the full wrath of American justice on American soil"
Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro was indicted in the Southern District of New York on narco-terrorism charges. Bondi added Maduro and his wife "will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts."
Maduro, his wife and four others are named as defendants in the indictment, including Maduro's son, Nicolás Ernesto Maduro; Venezuela's interior minister, Diosdado Cabello; its former interior minister, Ramón Rodríguez Chacín; and a leader of the gang Tren de Aragua, Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores.
In a 2020 indictment against Maduro, federal prosecutors alleged that he and other top Venezuelan officials collaborated with the Colombian guerrilla group Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, or FARC, to traffic cocaine and weapons to the United States.