Lupita Gutierrez, a fruit and vegetable vendor, poses for a portrait on Jan. 14 at the Houston Farmer’s Market in Houston. Gutierrez says she thinks Trump ordered the intervention in Venezuela to distract Americans from his failure to reduce inflation at home.
Danielle Villasana for NPR
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HOUSTON — It’s been barely a month since U.S. forces swooped into Venezuela and snatched up strongman Nicolás Maduro. The raid convulsed that country, and the effects still ripple through this oil-rich city, home to major petroleum companies as well as a large Venezuelan community.
Some people here fear what U.S. intervention might bring. Others see a powerful message to the world and an opportunity. In the suburb of Katy, Freddy Pereira is buying chocolate Ovaltine and lollipops from a Venezuelan grocery store to remind his 9-year-old daughter of home. Pereira, 42, says he left Venezuela two years ago after the mafia kept extorting meals from his restaurant and the cops were no help. The U.S. seizure of Maduro gives him hope.
“I am very grateful to President Trump for everything he has done,” says Pereira, who wears a “Lone Star State” cap and now makes a living delivering food. “I finally see a light in this dark tunnel where we couldn’t see a way out.”
Freddy Pereira poses for a portrait on Jan. 14 at Mi Querencia Latin Market in Katy, Texas. Pereira fled Venezuela two years ago and now works delivering food in Houston. He says he’s grateful to President Trump for ordering the seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro: “I don’t believe anyone else, nobody, would have helped us get out of this tragedy.”
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A 30-minute drive east of Katy is the Houston Farmers Market where Lupita Gutierrez sells fruit and vegetables. Gutierrez, who is 39 and from Mexico, thinks the Trump administration seized Maduro to distract from problems here at home, including high food prices and protests over ICE raids.
“The United States is going through a lot of problems,” says Gutierrez, who wears an apron that reads, “Mexico Lindo,” or “Beautiful Mexico.” “I think it’s mainly because the president isn’t doing the job he should be doing to take care of all the people who live here.”Gutierrez was one of nearly two dozen local residents interviewed about the U.S intervention in Venezuela. Most opposed it. A recent New York Times/Siena poll found similar results, with 53% disapproving of Trump’s handling of Venezuela and 41% approving.
Clay Duncan, who works for a medical device company, is among those 41%. He was still wearing his blue scrubs when NPR caught up with him one evening in Rice Village, a shopping and restaurant district near Rice University. Duncan is still impressed with how U.S. special forces captured Maduro.
“I think that’s also a warning to other countries when you push the administration, when you push the American people to a certain point, we’re going to take action,” Duncan says.
The Trump administration accuses Venezuela of smuggling drugs that are killing Americans, and Duncan thinks getting rid of Maduro will help. But the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says Venezuela plays no role in fentanyl smuggling and that most cocaine is produced in Colombia.
Clay Duncan poses for a portrait on Jan. 14 at Rice Village in Houston. Duncan, who works in the medical device industry, is happy with Trump’s second term. He says the intervention in Venezuela is a message to other countries: “When you push the American people to a certain point, we’re going to take action.”
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Duncan also hopes the U.S. can revive Venezuela’s oil industry and help its people.
“We’re not an imperialistic country,” Duncan says. “That’s not what this is. I think if we help set them up on their own feet so that they can get their sea legs and run the country, that’s what’s best for them.”
Several miles north of Rice village is a café called Brazil. Paintings of LBJ and Larry Hagman — who played JR on the ’80s TV show Dallas — hang over the bar.
Gwen McMurrey, an interior designer, says the U.S. intervention clearly seems like a grab for Venezuela’s oil. “If it was regime change,” she says, “why did you leave the regime in place?”
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Gwen McMurrey, 38, an interior designer, is writing thank-you notes over a latte and a blueberry scone. She thinks the U.S. intervention in Venezuela is a scam.
“It just seems like such an obvious oil grab,” McMurrey says. “Trump is dangerous and … stupid, which is fine, a lot of people are stupid, but he’s just got too much power for that to be safe.”
A few tables away sits Shanna Berry, 52, a retired hairdresser. She supports Trump and is glad Maduro’s gone, but she worries Trump might deploy a sizable U.S. force to the country. Berry served in the Air Force as a munitions specialist and says she was in Kuwait after the first Gulf War.
Retired hairdresser Shanna Berry (right), pictured with her friend Alma Ong, says she worries the U.S. might send troops to Venezuela but generally approves of the U.S. action there. “For the most part, I support it because I am against the dictatorship,” she says. “A lot of people were suffering in Venezuela.”
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“So many men went over there to defend our country, and they’ve come back with things like severe PTSD and really bad injuries. And my fear is that it once again will be for nothing,” she says.
Trump wants U.S. companies to rebuild Venezuela’s oil industry. But some are wary — in the past, the Venezuelan government forced them to renegotiate contracts on worse terms. In addition, most Venezuelan oil has the consistency of peanut butter, making it costly to move and refine.
But retired oil worker John Rodriguez, 58, sees opportunity. He spoke to NPR at a roadhouse one night near the refineries east of the city.
T-shirts celebrating the U.S. capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro were for sale at Mi Querencia Latin Market in Katy, Texas, on Jan. 14.
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“I believe it would have a huge impact on the ability for us to produce and create jobs for the industry,” Rodriguez says, adding that the top refineries in the area are able to manage what he calls Venezuela’s “dirty crude.”
Historically, U.S. intervention in Latin America — from Chile to Guatemala — has often left the countries and people worse off. Rodriguez is wary of the U.S. inserting itself again.
“If we’re going to take over a country like that we need to be able to support it,” Rodriguez says. “We need to be able to help the people.”
How is the Venezuelan community in Houston influencing discussions about U.S. intervention in Venezuela?
Table of Contents
- 1. How is the Venezuelan community in Houston influencing discussions about U.S. intervention in Venezuela?
- 2. U.S. Intervention in venezuela Divides Houston
- 3. The Venezuelan Diaspora in Houston: A Growing Presence
- 4. The Arguments for Intervention: Restoring Democracy
- 5. The Arguments Against Intervention: A History of U.S.Involvement
- 6. The Impact on Houston’s Political Landscape
- 7. Case Study: The 2019 Venezuelan Crisis and Houston’s Response
- 8. Looking Ahead: The Future of U.S.-Venezuela Relations and Houston’s Role
U.S. Intervention in venezuela Divides Houston
Houston, Texas, home to one of the largest Venezuelan diaspora communities in the United States, has become a focal point for debate surrounding U.S. policy towards Venezuela. The potential for increased U.S. intervention, particularly as political and economic instability continues in the South American nation, is deeply fracturing opinions within the city’s vibrant Venezuelan population. This division isn’t simply pro- or anti-intervention; it’s a complex tapestry woven with personal experiences, political ideologies, and concerns for family still residing in Venezuela.
The Venezuelan Diaspora in Houston: A Growing Presence
Over the past two decades, Houston has witnessed a notable influx of Venezuelan immigrants and refugees. Driven by the escalating crisis – hyperinflation,shortages of basic goods,political repression,and violence – many have sought refuge and chance in the Texas city. As of early 2026, estimates place the Venezuelan population in the Houston metropolitan area exceeding 100,000, creating a powerful cultural and economic force.
This community isn’t monolithic. It encompasses a wide spectrum of socio-economic backgrounds, political affiliations, and levels of connection to Venezuela. This diversity is a key factor in the diverging views on U.S. involvement.
The Arguments for Intervention: Restoring Democracy
A ample segment of the Venezuelan diaspora in Houston actively advocates for stronger U.S. intervention. Their reasoning centers on the belief that external pressure is the only viable path to restoring democracy in Venezuela.
* Human Rights Concerns: Many cite the documented human rights abuses perpetrated by the current regime as justification for intervention. Reports from organizations like Human Rights Watch and amnesty International detail widespread arbitrary arrests, torture, and extrajudicial killings.
* Supporting Opposition Leaders: Advocates believe the U.S. should provide more robust support – beyond sanctions – to opposition leaders and civil society groups working to challenge the government.
* Humanitarian Aid: The ongoing humanitarian crisis, characterized by widespread food and medicine shortages, fuels calls for direct U.S. assistance, even if it requires bypassing the government.
* Regional Stability: Some argue that a failed state in Venezuela poses a threat to regional stability, potentially leading to increased migration, drug trafficking, and geopolitical tensions.
These viewpoints are often passionately expressed at rallies and community events throughout Houston,with participants frequently displaying Venezuelan flags and calling for international action.
The Arguments Against Intervention: A History of U.S.Involvement
Conversely, a significant portion of the Venezuelan community in Houston vehemently opposes further U.S. intervention.Their opposition stems from a deep-seated skepticism towards U.S. foreign policy and a fear of repeating historical patterns.
* Past Interventions: critics point to a long history of U.S. intervention in Latin America, often with detrimental consequences for the targeted countries. They argue that intervention frequently exacerbates existing problems and undermines national sovereignty.
* Sanctions’ Impact: Many believe that existing U.S. sanctions, while intended to pressure the government, have disproportionately harmed the Venezuelan population, worsening the humanitarian crisis.
* Risk of Escalation: Concerns exist that direct military intervention could escalate the conflict, leading to a protracted civil war and further suffering.
* Internal Solutions: Some argue that a lasting solution to Venezuela’s problems must come from within, through dialog and negotiation between the government and the opposition.
This outlook is often voiced by individuals who have experienced the negative consequences of past U.S. interventions in other Latin American countries or who believe that sanctions are counterproductive.
The Impact on Houston’s Political Landscape
The division within the Venezuelan community is increasingly influencing the political landscape in Houston. Local politicians are finding themselves navigating a complex situation, attempting to balance the concerns of their constituents with broader foreign policy considerations.
Several town hall meetings held in late 2025 and early 2026 focused specifically on Venezuela, showcasing the passionate and frequently enough conflicting viewpoints within the community. These events highlighted the need for nuanced and informed discussions about U.S. policy.
Case Study: The 2019 Venezuelan Crisis and Houston’s Response
the 2019 Venezuelan presidential crisis, when Juan Guaidó declared himself interim president, provides a valuable case study. Houston’s Venezuelan community was deeply involved in mobilizing support for Guaidó, organizing protests, and lobbying U.S. officials. Though, even then, divisions existed, with some questioning the legitimacy of Guaidó’s claim and the role of the U.S. in recognizing him. This period demonstrated the pre-existing fractures within the community and the challenges of forging a unified stance on U.S. policy.
Looking Ahead: The Future of U.S.-Venezuela Relations and Houston’s Role
As the situation in Venezuela remains volatile, the debate over U.S. intervention is highly likely to continue. Houston’s Venezuelan community will undoubtedly remain at the forefront of this discussion, serving as a critical voice in shaping U.S. policy.The city’s unique position as a major hub for the Venezuelan diaspora makes it a crucial location for understanding the complexities of this issue and the diverse perspectives within the community. The ongoing dialogue, though often fraught with tension, is essential for informing a more effective and compassionate U.S. approach to Venezuela.
