Political crisis in Latin America has deadly consequences for U.S., warns Venezuelan opposition party

As the political crisis in Venezuela continues to escalate, members of the opposition party are sounding the alarm about the potential increase in violence by the Tren de Aragua gang, which could have deadly consequences for the U.S. if President Nicolás Maduro remains in power. Despite widespread belief that Maduro lost the 2024 presidential election to opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, he was inaugurated for his third term on Friday.

Opposition leader María Corina Machado is calling on Venezuelan citizens to join her in demanding that González be installed as the rightful president of Venezuela, setting the stage for a confrontation with the Maduro regime. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Machado warned that if Maduro is not stopped, millions of Venezuelan migrants could flee to the U.S.

Former high-ranking Venezuelan military official José Gustavo Arocha, who fled persecution by the Maduro regime, has also expressed concerns about the potential for increased violence by the Tren de Aragua gang if Maduro remains in power. Arocha, now a senior fellow at the Center for a Secure Free Society, believes that Maduro may use the gang as a tool for coercion and to achieve his objectives.

The Tren de Aragua gang, known for its brutal tactics including kidnapping, torture, and robbery, has been wreaking havoc in Venezuela and beyond. Security and risk strategist Alberto Ray, who works with Machado, warns that the situation in Venezuela is \”extremely explosive\” and that the presence of Tren de Aragua in the U.S. could grow if Maduro is not removed from power.

Ray emphasizes the need for the U.S. government to take a strong stance against Maduro and to enforce existing sanctions to prevent further destabilization in the region. He believes that the next 72 hours are critical in determining the future of Venezuela and the potential impact on the U.S.

It is clear that the Venezuelan political crisis has far-reaching consequences, not only for the people of Venezuela but also for neighboring countries and the U.S. The threat of increased violence by the Tren de Aragua gang underscores the urgent need for decisive action to address the crisis and restore democracy in Venezuela.