A newly established group of Venezuelan organizations in the United States made a public statement from Doral, Florida, on Friday, highlighting the "suffering" caused by the deportations under the Trump administration. They also announced plans to mobilize their community's vote ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
The "Coalition of Venezuelans in the USA," which recently came together, presented a letter to Republican Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart. The letter, endorsed by 20 organizations and 126 social leaders, demands his public stance on the immigration arrests conducted by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the area.
Helene Villalonga, president of the Multicultural Association of Activists Voice and Expression (AMAVEX), led the event, expressing the group's electoral intentions: "As nonprofit organizations, we have the power to encourage voting. We definitely want to restore the balance of power in Congress."
Immigration arrests and deportations continue to cause anxiety among Latino communities in the U.S. For more on this topic, visit our U.S. Immigration section.
Villalonga clarified that while the coalition will not endorse specific candidates, it will promote civic participation: "Most people here are citizens and residents. We will definitely go out to vote. We will encourage voting, not endorse political candidates, but we will support voter turnout."
In Doral, where 40% of the population has Venezuelan roots, fear has been growing due to ICE's presence in the streets. Jani Méndez, a coalition member, shared her personal experience: "Even as a citizen who came here at six, I'm afraid. I'm scared my sister might not be here, that my mom, who lacks status, might be taken away. It's terrifying."
The coalition unites Venezuelans from various political affiliations—Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. Their first public event coincided with a visit from the so-called "border czar," Tom Homan, who boasted about nearly 200,000 immigration arrests in the past four months during an event at Trump National Doral Miami, warning of increased deportations in 2027.
Venezuelan-American Doral Councilman Rafael Pineyro criticized this approach: "We're not telling the administration to stop their duties; we're saying, do it as you promised, targeting criminals. Those detained are not criminals."
Adding to the migration tension is the outrage over Trump's comments during Hispanic Heritage Month, where he claimed people in Venezuela "have a smile on their face." The community also reacted to his remarks in a Time magazine interview, stating that it's "too soon" to hold elections in Venezuela, while deportations to the country persist.
José Antonio Colina, president of Venezuelans Persecuted in Political Exile (Veppex), highlighted the contradiction: "The same time needed to dismantle the repressive apparatus and call for elections should be afforded to Venezuelans in the U.S. seeking asylum or protection."
Just a day before the event, Díaz-Balart himself had criticized Trump’s response to the migration crisis as "excessive" in an interview with Telemundo, increasing pressure on the legislator to take a more definitive stance with his Venezuelan constituents in South Florida.
FAQs on Venezuelan Deportations and Voting Mobilization
What is the purpose of the Coalition of Venezuelans in the USA?
The coalition seeks to address the suffering caused by deportations under the Trump administration and aims to mobilize the Venezuelan community's vote in the upcoming midterm elections.
How is ICE affecting the Venezuelan community in Doral?
ICE's presence in Doral has created a climate of fear among residents, many of whom have Venezuelan roots, leading to concerns about deportations and family separations.
What was Tom Homan's message during his visit to Doral?
Tom Homan, during his visit, boasted of nearly 200,000 immigration arrests in four months and warned of increased deportations by 2027.