Venezuelan Expats Divided Over US Bombing: Hope for Change Mixed With Fear of Violence

José Daniel Gutiérrez, who moved to Venezuela in the late 1970s, commented on the US bombing of the country. "Venezuela clearly needed a change. We'll see if it's for better or worse," he said. He was making a traditional family yam stew when he heard the news from EL DÍA about his wife's home country. Everyone at the stew had also moved to Venezuela and was happy that Maduro was "finally" leaving. However, they also shared a common concern: "I don't like violence," they said almost together.

The US actions in Venezuela, sometimes called the 'eighth island', caused uncertainty for those who had once moved there for a better life. Ernesto Tosco and Miguel Dorta joined Gutiérrez in the discussion. Tosco felt the bombing was "good, considering the country's situation." He added, "Nobody wants their country invaded, but this is how things are. You have to look at the state of the country. There were elections, there was fraud, and millions of people have left because of the situation. I'm not saying what's right or wrong. Venezuela is a great country and shouldn't be like this." Dorta agreed, stating, "Violence isn't pleasant, but given what the people there are going through, intervention was bound to happen."

Kiko Gutiérrez, who moved to Venezuela from Garachico in 1956 at age 16, arrived at the yam stew with his phone to his ear. He was listening to Radio Nacional de Venezuela for updates. "I've had it on since my son told me," he admitted. He echoed the sentiment, "I don't like violence." He continued, "I thought this would be different; innocent people will die, and I don't think that's right. As they say there, I'm 'between Guatire and Guarenas'," expressing his uncertainty. He firmly stated, "It's clear this government stole votes, including mine. The opposition kept records, so the world knows the last Venezuelan elections were a sham."

At nearly 86, Kiko Gutiérrez, thanks to his dual nationality, still votes in Venezuela and wants it to be a democratic nation. He pointed out, "Venezuela has never historically been a country people leave, yet now about eight million Venezuelans are living abroad because they have no choice." Looking ahead, Kiko imagined, "The Venezuelan people will take to the streets. We'll wait to see if people truly come out to cheer and celebrate what has happened."

Ana González Araque, originally from Caracas and married to José Daniel Gutiérrez, has lived in Garachico for 36 years. She felt conflicted, neither fully for nor against the actions, but worried about the future. "What will happen now in Venezuela?" she wondered. She learned her family – her siblings and mother – were safe through an early morning WhatsApp message, even before she knew Caracas was being bombed by the US. "As soon as I woke up and saw that message, I knew something bad was happening," she recalled. Running a small wine and cheese shop in Villa y Puerto, she told customers, "The main problem is the lack of information. You see the images, and it's terrifying: people running everywhere, fires, bombings... there's terrible chaos as people search for supplies because they don't know what's next."

Ana quickly looked for information and remembered Donald Trump's comments. "This man says it was a brilliant operation. I think a brilliant operation would have removed Maduro without causing all this destruction," she stated. While she wanted change, she emphasized, "that didn't mean harming people. And if Venezuela, especially Caracas, was already in bad shape, imagine it now." She described the events as "totally unexpected. Venezuela's airspace had been blocked for over 15 days, but that didn't suggest this would happen. It was unexpected for everyone, especially in this manner."

Eduardo González, who has lived in Tenerife for six years after "fleeing an unsustainable situation" in Venezuela, answered a call while on his way to Teide. "I have mixed feelings," he said. "Ultimately, it's what we all wanted, but it creates confusion because you don't know if there's danger or not, especially for family still there." Most of his relatives are now in the United States, with only a few remaining in Venezuela. He concluded, "I knew this government would only leave through violence because it was impossible for them to do so through elections."