Opinion | Venezuela’s Turning Point

Opinion | Venezuela’s Turning Point
A Venezuelan-American living in Marshfield shares her personal perspective on recent news from Venezuela.
By Geraldine Thomas

The year had barely begun when we heard news of President Trump’s order for U.S. special forces to conduct a daring precision strike, which resulted in the direct capture of Venezuelan dictator, Nicolas Maduro. For many watching, this was bold military action, but for me as a Venezuelan-American and other millions of Venezuelans suffering under the socialist regime, it was liberation.

Venezuela should be one of the Americas’ wealthiest countries. They have the world’s largest proven oil reserves and vast fertile land. Yet for most of my life, we have lived in scarcity and fear. As a little girl in the 1990s, the country was already eroding under a corrupt oligarchy; infrastructure crumbled, crime soared, homelessness spread, and the middle class shrank. I remember watching our currency, the Bolívar, collapse in value— a 500 bolívar note falling from $50 to $5 in months. It was the beginning of the end, and the reason why socialism seemed a good solution to our woes. 

In the early 2000s, my family decided it was best to follow a legal path to immigrate to the United States. It was the year Chavez was voted into power. I watched his inauguration on television. Chávez paraded triumphantly amidst a sea of cheering red berets. Even at that young age, I wondered if that celebration would be in vain. The prospect of socialism seemed unknown and risky. Personally, immigrating tore my heart in two. I had to leave the only home I’d known, and assimilate into a new culture; nevertheless thank God we were headed to America soil where there was stability, freedom and a future. 

As we know, what followed was a 26-year nightmare for the Venezuelan people. Abroad, many of us got to see Venezuela sink into despair under Chávez and then Maduro’s regime; Industries were crippled, people experienced chronic shortages, bread lines, and violence against the population. Venezuelans became second-class citizens in their own country.  Millions fled in one of history’s largest peacetime exoduses as it became a hub for narco-terrorism, corruption, and human rights abuses. In the news we read how Maduro sent gang members in droves pouring into the United States.

That's why the events of January 3 fill me with hope and not fear. Some call it an "invasion." From my perspective, it's liberation. Venezuelans in exile, including over 7 million who fled, have long pleaded for help against this tyranny. This operation answered that call. Venezuelans at home and abroad welcome American partnership. American engineering, investment, and neutral arbitration can revive their economy, stabilize governance, and allow millions of refugees to return home, easing pressure on host countries, including the United States.

America welcomed us with open arms. Today, I live in Marshfield, Missouri, a quiet community in the Ozarks that feels worlds away from Caracas. Here, neighbors wave from porches, churches host potlucks, and schools prioritize family values. Marshfield has been an incredible place to raise my family. The people here are kind, hardworking, and genuinely welcoming to newcomers like me without judgment. I love this country profoundly because it gave me a second chance—one Venezuela could no longer offer. The U.S. isn't perfect, but its foundations of freedom, rule of law, and opportunity have allowed generations of its citizens to thrive. As we start 2026, I'm grateful. Grateful for the bravery of those U.S. forces, for my welcoming home in Missouri, and for the enduring hope that freedom prevails.  Today, I am proud to be an American citizen, and I can think of no better partner to help rebuild my birthplace than the United States.