Tim Vandenack covers immigration, multicultural issues and Northern Utah for KSL. He worked several years for the Standard-Examiner in Ogden and has lived and reported in Mexico, Chile and along the U.S.-Mexico border.
SALT LAKE CITY — It's been nearly three months since U.S. forces swooped into Venezuela and deposed Nicolás Maduro, the nation's president.Forces aligned with the socialist strongman still rule the country.
Nevertheless, members of the Venezuelan community now living in Utah — largely opposed to Maduro and his regime — remain confident that change is afoot, though it may take time, and many still live in fear.Venezuelans "need to keep supporting President Trump's policies, regardless of the immigration issue," said Norely López, originally from Venezuela but now living in South Jordan. "We as Venezuelans trust the work that is being done, and we know significant change is coming and that Venezuela will ultimately get liberty and democracy."She's involved in efforts with other Venezuelans living in the United States through Vente Venezuela, a political movement that's pushing for a return to democracy in the country. The movement is allied with Maria Corina Machado, the opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner, who has led the struggle to promote democracy in Venezuela.Carlos Moreno, a member of the Salt Lake County Council who fled Venezuela in 2009 due to political persecution, said he met with a pair of U.S. State Department representatives recently who offered insights on U.S. efforts to bring about change. Trump ordered the U.S. military operation on Jan. 3 to forcibly remove Maduro from the country so he could face charges related to drug trafficking in federal court in New York.The State Department officials, who were seeking feedback from Venezuelans in the United States, said U.S. personnel are in Venezuela, working directly with Venezuelan officials to try to prod change. Delcy Rodriguez, part of the Maduro government, has been serving as the nation's president since Maduro's ouster. Moreno also foresees increased U.S. investment in the oil and electricity sectors in Venezuela, further promoting change."They are taking over the government. The United States has many representatives ... in many places in the Venezuelan government to start making changes," Moreno said. Moreover, Rodriguez, he said, has been cooperating with U.S. officials.Hector Hernandez, who fled Venezuela in 2021 due to political persecution, is also optimistic, noting that change takes time."Everything in its time. It's not that fast because, remember, Chavismo has been in power for 28 years, and it's not easy to topple the c
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