Voices: As someone who fled Venezuela, I am not celebrating war. I am celebrating the possibility of freedom.

On Friday, Jan. 3, my son woke me at 11:30 p.m. with shocking news: Caracas had been bombed by the United States.

My initial reaction was fear and anguish. In November 2025, my sister was forced to return to Venezuela after the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status, leaving her and her family vulnerable after more than seven years of legal residence and entrepreneurship in the U.S.

Once I confirmed that my sister and her family were safe, my fear turned into hope. I learned that Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores — leaders of the Cartel of the Suns and usurpers of Venezuela’s presidency — had been extracted from Caracas in a precise military operation that minimized civilian casualties while targeting key regime sites. For millions of Venezuelans, this marked the first real step toward ending a dictatorship that has lasted more than 26 years.

I lived half my life under the regimes of Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro. I was politically persecuted by colectivos, the regime’s paramilitary forces. In 2018, I fled to the United States during a devastating national collapse in Venezuela marked by hunger, insecurity and the failure of basic services. I left my husband and daughter behind for more than two years, during which they were also persecuted, until we were finally reunited through political asylum.

My experience reflects that of more than 8 million Venezuelans who have been forced to flee their country.

Today, some outside Venezuela condemn what they call an “invasion,” claiming the United States seeks only to steal Venezuela’s oil. These arguments ignore reality. Venezuela has long been infiltrated by Cuban, Russian, Chinese and Iranian interests that have helped dismantle our oil industry and devastate our natural resources. The industry itself collapsed after Hugo Chávez purged qualified professionals from Petróleos de Venezuela in 2002, replacing them with political loyalists and military officers. What remains is often used to finance corruption and drug trafficking.

Venezuelans are not celebrating war; we are celebrating the possibility of freedom. We want a country with economic opportunity, freedom of expression, a stable currency and dignity for its people — especially the elderly and the poor. We want a future where Venezuelans can prosper at home instead of fleeing abroad.

If rebuilding Venezuela requires international cooperation, including renewed U.S. participation in our energy sector, then it is a price worth paying.

After decades of suffering, Venezuelans deserve the chance to reclaim their country.

Gabrielle Pacheco is a political science student at Salt Lake Community College. She works for a law firm in South Jordan.

The Salt Lake Tribune is committed to creating a space where Utahns can share ideas, perspectives and solutions that move our state forward. We rely on your insight to do this. Find out how to share your opinion here, and email us at voices@sltrib.com.