North Miami-Dade News

On December 19, 2024, a bipartisan group of U.S. representatives issued a statement condemning the actions of the Venezuelan government towards the Argentine Embassy in Caracas. The statement was led by Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), chair of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, and Congressman Joaquín Castro (D-TX), ranking member of the subcommittee. They were joined by Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Carlos Giménez (R-FL), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Ami Bera (D-CA), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Norma Torres (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), and Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX).

The statement addressed the ongoing siege of the Argentine Embassy in Venezuela by Nicolás Maduro's regime: "El continuo asedio del régimen de Maduro a la Embajada de Argentina en Venezuela es una flagrante violación de las Convenciones de Viena. Esta persecución política de los seis miembros del equipo de María Corina Machado que han estado en la Embajada durante más de ocho meses debe terminar. El régimen de Maduro ha cortado el acceso al agua y la electricidad en la Embajada durante semanas en una táctica inhumana que merece el claro repudio de todo el mundo. Condenamos inequívocamente estas acciones y pedimos el paso seguro de estas personas a Argentina u otro destino de su elección. Maduro y sus cómplices deben rendir cuentas por sus crímenes."

Six members of opposition leader María Corina Machado's team have been sheltered at the Argentine Embassy since March. Recently, Maduro's security forces have surrounded the embassy, cutting off water and electricity and deploying snipers around its premises.

Last week, an Argentine military police officer assigned to protect the embassy was reportedly kidnapped by regime forces. Argentine President Javier Milei remains steadfast in his support for Venezuela's opposition but requires international backing and pressure regarding this situation.

Since July 28 elections, Congresswoman Salazar has advocated for freedom efforts led by Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia and leader María Corina Machado. She joined a bipartisan group to introduce REVOCAR Act and VALOR Act legislations aimed at cutting financial lifelines to Maduro’s regime amid its intensified crackdown on opposition leaders and activists nationwide.