The five opposition figures had taken refuge in the Argentine embassy in Venezuela for over a year.
Five members of Venezuela’s political opposition who had taken refuge at the Argentine diplomatic residence in Venezuela’s capital for over a year arrived safely in the United States this week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on May 6, calling the extraction a “successful rescue.”
While Rubio offered few details about the group’s journey, he said the effort was a coordinated operation to free political dissidents held hostage by the regime of Nicolás Maduro, the leader of Venezuela.
“The U.S. welcomes the successful rescue of all hostages held by the Maduro regime at the Argentinian Embassy in Caracas,” Rubio said in a statement on social media. “Following a precise operation, all hostages are now safely on U.S. soil. Maduro’s illegitimate regime has undermined Venezuela’s institutions, violated human rights, and endangered our regional security.”
The U.S. welcomes the successful rescue of all hostages held by the Maduro regime at the Argentinian Embassy in Caracas.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) May 7, 2025
Following a precise operation, all hostages are now safely on U.S. soil. Maduro's illegitimate regime has undermined Venezuela's institutions, violated human…
The five who reportedly departed on May 6 had been living under siege by Venezuelan security forces since March 2024, following accusations of attempting to destabilize the Maduro regime.
Argentina had granted them formal asylum on their arrival, with a May 6 statement by Argentina President Javier Milei’s office describing their extraction as an “impeccable operation” coordinated with the United States.
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado’s office praised the effort in a May 6 statement, calling it a “historic milestone” in both the personal lives of the rescued opposition figures and in the “broader struggle of all Venezuelans who yearn for freedom.”
The Argentine residence in Caracas, under Brazilian protection since Buenos Aires severed ties with Maduro after Venezuela’s contested 2024 election, had become a focal point of international tension. Brazil, which was not involved in the extraction, said it had repeatedly urged Venezuela to allow safe passage for the asylum-seeking opposition members.
“These repeated efforts were not accepted, prolonging the difficult humanitarian conditions at the Argentine residence in Caracas, which had been surrounded by security forces,” Brazil’s foreign ministry said in a statement Wednesday. “The announcement of their departure ends this episode and the ordeal experienced by the asylum seekers for more than 400 days.”
By Tom Ozimek
