Miriam Hidalgowoke at 3 a.m. on Jan. 3to the phone call the 66-year-oldVenezuelan-Americanhas waited decades to receive: The U.S. had taken Nicolás Maduro, her homeland's president, into custody.
The move filled the Palm Beach County, Florida, resident — who moved to the U.S. in 1995 to raise her two daughters away from the instability she felt brewing in the place she was born — with relief and joy.
"After 30 years living in this country, to see the government doing something so wonderful, it makes me so happy," Hidalgo said as she stood hours later with other supporters near Mar-a-Lago, the Palm Beach estate where PresidentDonald Trumpgave the order to make the military action happen.
Hidalgo was one of thousands of people across South Florida to stop and celebrate the ouster of a man whose government they say is marked by corruption, authoritarian tactics, widespread food shortages, the collapse of public services, hyperinflation and, U.S. prosecutors say, narco-terrorism.
'Today is the day of freedom'
Edgar Rodriguez got his call about the operation in Caracas two hours before Hildago. He stood in a sea of Venezuela's colors — red, blue and yellow — outside the El Arepazo restaurant in Doral, Florida, and said the ouster of the South American nation's strongman had him hoping that one day, he might return home.
"It's 26 years of a nightmare," Rodriguez, a coordinator for Vente Venezuela, the political party many say ousted Maduro from the presidency in the 2024 election. "So many innocent people have died. There are so many tortured political prisoners and families separated by people being forced to flee the country."
"Today is the day of freedom," Rodriguez added. "Today, that nightmare finally comes to an end."
The scene around Rodriguez grew more festive as more than 100 people descended on the restaurant, a landmark that stands about a mile northwest of Trump National Doral Miami golf club.
Some draped the Venezuelan flag on their backs, others held posters saying "Freedom for Venezuela" and "Until the end," and much of the crowd of more than 100 put their hands on their chests and sang their nation's anthem, "Gloria Al Bravo Pueblo," in unison.
"USA! USA! USA!" they chanted as they finished.
Even a timbalero showed up to entertain the crowd, ending his percussion show by screaming, "Que viva Venezuela libre!"Long live a free Venezuela.
"Que viva Venezuela," the crowd answered.
Opponents say Congress should have OK'd Trump Maduro plan
Not everyone who gathered near Mar-a-Lago did so to support President Donald Trump's decision. Some thought he should have sought the approval of Congress before ousting a foreign head of state. Trump in his remarks Jan. 3 said informing Congress could have led to the operation being leaked to reporters.
Paula McCleese, 74, of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, was one of nine protesters outside Trump's Palm Beach estate. They stood across the street from a crowd of Trump supporters about three times their size who wore MAGA hats and waved Venezuelan flags.
The group of nine joked that while they opposed Trump, they wouldn't mind if the leader of another country took a page from his book and brought the U.S. president into custody.
"I am resisting this fascist regime that I've been forced to live under since 2016, with a little break from PresidentJoe Biden," McCleese said, holding a "Fight fascism" sign. "We are resisting the lawlessness of this presidency."
McCleese said her parents, whom she described as World War II survivors and Republicans, shaped her sense of civic responsibility and are "rolling in their graves." She added she was disappointed by the size of the demonstration but not surprised.
"I think people are in La La Land," she said. "They don't feel the threat."
Asked about the Venezuelan-Americans across the street who said they welcomed the recent development as a chance for peace for the country, McCleese disagreed.
"No, no, Venezuelan people should be fighting," she said. "What our leader did is break our own laws. Two wrongs do not make a right."
She added that, had Congress voted to approve the move, she likely would have supported it.
"We hate Trump!" shouted a man standing beside her. A passing driver shouted back: "We hate you!"
Some Venezuelans would return to a free, prosperous nation
By noon, two groups of Trump supporters had appeared outside of Mar-a-Lago. One waved American flags, wore MAGA hats and screamed invectives at the small gathering of protestors across the street. The protesters screamed back, trading insults and curses as cars honked between them.
The other group, a minute's walk west, showed less anger and more euphoria. They held Venezuelan flags, laughed, embraced, sang in Spanish and chanted: "Free Venezuela, free Venezuela, finally Venezuela is free!"
Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan nationals had fled to the United States, receiving Temporary Protected Status to live and work here. Trump's administration is in the process of removing that status, potentially leaving many of them without valid work permits and subject to deportation.
Some said they would be glad to go home to a free and safe Venezuela. Lisbeth Garcia stood outside of El Arepazo holding a banner of Maria Corina Machado, the Nobel Peace Prize winner who many believe defeated Maduro in the 2024 election. It read: "Venezuela is our only option."
"We are all in jubilee here in Doral," Garcia said. "We have renewed hope that we will have a prosperous Venezuela that will welcome all of us who left home."
Hidalgo credited President Donald Trump for what she described as decisive action against Maduro's government. She urged Americans who oppose U.S. involvement abroad to reconsider.
"Without this help, there will be no change," she said. "Without help, Venezuela will never be free. Just like Cuba."
Valentina Palm covers immigration and the western communities of Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. Email her atvpalm@pbpost.com.
Hannah Phillips is a journalist covering public safety and criminal justice at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her athphillips@pbpost.com.
Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor atThe Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him atafins@pbpost.com.Support local journalism:Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post:Venezuelans in South Florida mark Maduro's ouster as 'day of freedom'
