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Venezuelans in U.S. hopeful of change

Venezuelans living in the United States are reacting with cautious optimism that there will be change in their homeland following President Hugo Chavez’s death.

In the Miami suburb of Doral, Venezuelans watched on television as the country’s vice president, Nicolas Maduro, announced Chavez had died Tuesday. At a popular restaurant, one person cheered at the news, but the rest watched quietly and refrained from any celebration.

Doral has the largest concentration of Venezuelans in the U.S. Dora’s mayor and police chief prepared a security and contingency plan in the event of Chavez’s death. Many Venezuelans are expected to gather at restaurants and meeting spots in Miami, though few people immediately showed up.

There are nearly 190,000 Venezuelans in the United States. Many are strongly anti-Chavez.

The Associated Press