The world is watching Venezuela and asking whether the removal of Nicolás Maduro marks a turning point. For millions of Venezuelans forced to flee his corrupt rule, justice catching up with him is welcome news. As an American of Venezuelan descent, it is deeply personal. My family has watched the country collapse under dictatorship while loved ones were silenced, imprisoned or forced into exile. As a Christian, I believe protecting human rights and treating people with dignity is a moral obligation.
But we must be honest. What comes next matters far more than what happened on Jan. 3. Removing a dictator is not the same as restoring democracy or rebuilding a country. Today, the same authoritarian structure remains in place, including figures like Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s hand-selected vice president, who are part of the same oppressive system that dismantled Venezuela’s institutions and economy. Venezuelans have endured too much to trade one chapter of suffering for another defined by chaos or a power vacuum. They deserve democracy, the rule of law and institutions that protect their rights and their future. They deserve a real path to freedom and economic stability that allows families to rebuild. Political prisoners have been a defining weapon of Venezuela’s repression. While recent releases offer relief to families who have waited in anguish, justice is not complete. All political prisoners must be freed. Venezuela cannot move forward while even one innocent person remains jailed for speaking out or demanding democracy.
Any transition claiming legitimacy must meet clear democratic tests: the unconditional release of all political prisoners, a free press, respect for the will expressed by Venezuelan voters and a transparent roadmap toward legitimate leadership. In 2024, Venezuelans made their choice. A credible democratic transition must create a pathway for María Corina Machado and Edmundo González to take the helm of their country. Anything less ignores the will of Venezuelans. That raises the central question the United States must answer clearly and publicly: What is the plan? Venezuela’s future matters to the United States. Prolonged instability drives irregular migration, regional insecurity and narcotrafficking. A prosperous, democratic Venezuela would strengthen stability and serve as a counterweight to authoritarian regimes, including China and Russia, that seek to expand their influence in the Western Hemisphere. So the question remains: Is this about restoring democracy, or is it about something else?
President Trump has repeatedly said U.S. action in Venezuela is about oil, not freedom. That framing should concern every American who believes in democratic values. Venezuela’s oil belongs to the Venezuelan people. Under Maduro, oil wealth was handed to allies like Cuba while Venezuelans faced hunger, blackouts and economic collapse. Energy can be part of Venezuela’s recovery, but it cannot be the objective. When oil becomes the goal rather than the tool, democracy is always the casualty. Democracy cannot be restored through backroom deals. Congress and the American people must not be sidelined in decisions of this magnitude. Transparency and accountability are the foundation of legitimate leadership. Venezuela deserves a real transition away from a criminal regime, one centered on democratic will and legitimate leadership. Any credible path forward must respect Venezuela’s sovereignty and support a peaceful transition. This moment can still matter for the right reasons, but only if the United States is honest about its goals and unwavering in its commitment to democracy and the rule of law.
I left the private sector after more than a decade because moments like this demand principled leadership — leadership willing to ask hard questions, reject cynical deals and stand firmly for democratic values. As an American with Venezuelan roots, I will continue to press for a foreign policy that serves both our national interests and our moral obligations. American interests are best served by defending democratic values and supporting peaceful, legitimate transitions. Venezuelans deserve more than the removal of a tyrant. They deserve a future. Hector Mujica is an American of Venezuelan descent and is a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate who lives in South Florida. He previously spent more than a decade at Google, where he led the company’s social impact work across the Americas.
