Venezuelan Exiles Dream of Return: Why Home Remains Out of Reach, Even After Maduro's Departure

The Lingering Hope: Venezuelan Exiles Ponder a Return Home

For countless Venezuelans living abroad, the thought of their homeland has long been tinged with longing and a heavy dose of fear. Years of political repression, economic collapse, and widespread violence under Nicolas Maduro's rule forced millions into exile, scattering families across the globe. So, when news broke of Maduro's removal in January 2025, an eruption of joy, relief, and renewed hope swept through the diaspora. Yet, even as the cheers faded, a stark question remained: Is Venezuela truly safe for their return?

A Glimmer of Dawn: The Initial Euphoria

For individuals like Luis Peche, a 31-year-old political consultant now living in Bogotá, Colombia, the dream of a Venezuela free from Maduro's grip was a constant companion. Having witnessed friends imprisoned and others flee in terror, Peche himself was forced into exile in May 2025, narrowly escaping arrest. The news of Maduro's departure on January 3 brought an overwhelming wave of emotion.

“It represented the possibility that the terrible things we’ve lived through could finally come to an end,” Peche recalled from his vantage point overlooking Bogotá. The prospect of returning home, of rebuilding a life free from oppression, felt tantalizingly close.

The Persistent Shadow: What's Truly Stopping These Exiled Venezuelans From Returning Home?

While the architect of their suffering may be gone, the infrastructure of his regime, the very machinery of repression, largely endures. This unsettling reality casts a long shadow over the dreams of returning exiles.

The Enduring Grip of the Regime

The United States' action to remove Maduro, bringing him to New York to face trial, was a significant event. However, the subsequent recognition of Maduro's former vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, as Venezuela’s interim leader by the Trump administration has introduced a complex layer of continuity. Key figures instrumental in orchestrating human rights abuses under Maduro, such as Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, still wield considerable power.

Moreover, the streets of Venezuela remain patrolled by roving gangs, long accustomed to crushing dissent. These groups continue to pose a threat to anyone perceived as sympathetic to the opposition, fueling fears that the violence that drove many away could easily resurface.

“My concern is that there is a change with Maduro’s exit, but the regime remains,” Peche stated, articulating the apprehension shared by many. “My plans to return are on hold while I wait to see what happens.”

Voices from the Diaspora: Hope, Skepticism, and Unjust Realities

Jesus Rodriguez, a 50-year-old Venezuelan also exiled in Bogotá, shares Peche’s longing for home but approaches the current situation with deep skepticism. “The head is gone, but the limbs remain,” he remarked, capturing the sentiment that true systemic change has yet to materialize. “Venezuela still has a long way to go.”

The Unfolding Tragedy of Political Prisoners

Rodriguez’s personal struggle amplifies this skepticism. His cousin, opposition leader Jesus Armas, remains unjustly imprisoned in El Helicoide, one of Venezuela’s most notorious detention centers. “It’s a huge injustice,” Rodriguez lamented, expressing the bitter disappointment that Armas, who was expected to be among the first released, continues to languish in jail. He hopes for his cousin's swift freedom, particularly to see his ailing father.

The interim government did promise the release of a “significant number” of political prisoners, along with mass amnesty and the closure of El Helicoide. However, these pledges have been met with doubt. According to the human rights non-profit Foro Penal, only 344 of Venezuela’s estimated 800 political prisoners were released between January 8 and February 1, and many of those faced gag orders and threats to their newly regained, fragile freedom.

The Necessity of Intervention: A Polarizing View

Despite the ongoing uncertainty and the criticisms surrounding international law, Rodriguez firmly believes the US military action to remove Maduro was necessary. Polling from November showed nearly two-thirds of the Venezuelan diaspora supported such an intervention.

“It was necessary because there were no independent institutions or real checks on his power, and because citizens couldn’t overcome the violence he used to crush every attempt to remove him,” Rodriguez asserted. Like many exiles, he attributes his profound losses—his career, his home, and his family—directly to the political repression of the previous regime. Despite holding an accounting degree and legal status in Colombia, he now works in a call center, a stark reminder of the upheaval he endured.

An Unfinished Chapter: The Long Road to True Return

One month after Maduro's ouster, the dreams of many exiled Venezuelans remain suspended between hope and harsh reality. While the “head” of the former government is gone, the “limbs” of repression continue to exert control, preventing a safe and meaningful return for those who yearn for their homeland. The path to a truly free and secure Venezuela, where exiles can finally come home without fear, is clearly still a long and arduous one.