[Maru]

Some Venezuelans in Houston gather together and online to celebrate Maduro's capture
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For some in Houston's growing Venezuelan community — especially in Katy — news of the U.S. raid that captured President Nicolás Maduro early Saturday was an exciting surprise.

"You better believe Venezuelita (Katy, TX) is on party mode right now!" a Twitter user wrote on X Saturday.

The Houston area’s Venezuelan population more than tripled from 2012 to 2022, according to Census data, with much of that growth concentrated in and around Katy. From 2012 to 2022, the Venezuelan population in the four ZIP codes of the Katy area has grown by more than 400% to more than 15,000. With over 50,000 residents of Venezuelan descent in the Houston area, the community has grown into one of the most prominent Latino groups in the region.

Several gathered outside a market in Katy on Saturday, waving Venezuelan flags and dancing, celebrating the fall of the deeply unpopular president. Maduro, who was sworn in this year, has been criticized domestically for his handling of the nation's economy and authoritarian rule.

One of the celebrants was 50-year-old Luz Mora, who left her native Venezuela for Florida in 2001, when Hugo Chavez was president.

"This was one of those news (stories) that you were waiting for," Mora said, "Its the type of news that surprises you and that you're going to remember forever."

Mora, who made her way to Katy two years ago, said she remembers the day she received an arrest notice from the Venezuelan government in 2014. She actively showed opposition of Maduro on social media and was told she would be arrested if she returned to the country.

"It was tough to not feel afraid, even when you're outside of Venezuela," Mora said. "Because your family and friends are still there so you have to be careful."

Mora now hopes she can return to visit family, and that with Maduro captured and out of the country, more freedom and economic opportunities await Venezuelans.

In the U.S., President Trump has accused Maduro of stealing oil drilling operations from American companies, facilitating drug trafficking and backing deadly criminal gangs. Maduro was indicted in 2020 on U.S. charges of drug trafficking and terrorism.

In other parts of the U.S., Venezuelans celebrated the news of Maduro's capture. The Associated Press reported that many gathered outside a South American eatery in Florida on Saturday, wrapping themselves in Venezuelan flags and cheering. At one point, the crowd chanted “Liberty! Liberty! Liberty!”

In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott echoed Trump's criticisms of Maduro in praising the action, saying "Texas and the world are better because of his capture."

Opposition

But the sudden military incursion has raised questions among lawmakers about the president's legal authority to carry out the strike without congressional approval.

"President Maduro’s authoritarian government was illegitimate and oppressive," said U.S. Rep Lizzie Fletcher, D-Houston, in a statement. "But President Trump’s statements today made clear that be believes he has the unilateral authority to depose foreign leaders and take over foreign countries. He does not."

Fletcher said that Congress never authorized strikes on Venezuela, and that the "multiple rationales the administration put forward to justify its actions raised more questions than they answered.

“The Trump administration must immediately and fully brief Congress and answer questions from the representatives of the American people," she added in her statement.

Some Houstonians are organizing a protest of Trump's action, calling for a rally Sunday afternoon near downtown's Post Houston. The organization hosting the protest called it a "war (that) is not about drug trafficking ... (but) about stealing Venezuela's oil and dominating Latin America."

Other protests are being held around the country as well.