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U.S. Forces Detained Venezuela’s President After Overnight Operation

Editor — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 11:17:26 +0000

Former President Donald J. Trump claimed on Saturday, January 3, that U.S. forces had detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Venezuela’s first lady Cilia Flores Mr. Maduro and removed him from Venezuela during an overnight military operation.

In a statement posted in the early hours of Saturday, Jan. 3, Mr. Trump said American forces had carried out what he described as a decisive operation in and around Caracas, asserting that Mr. Maduro and Ms. Flores were taken into custody and flown out of the country. Mr. Trump did not specify which U.S. agencies were involved or where Mr. Maduro was being held.

There was no immediate confirmation from the White House, the Pentagon, or the State Department. As of early Saturday, U.S. officials declined to comment, and no formal announcement had been issued by the Biden administration or military leadership.

Reports of explosions in Caracas circulated on social media shortly before 2 a.m. local time. Journalists from CNN reported hearing multiple blasts and observing power outages in parts of the capital, though the cause and scope of the incidents remained unclear.

Venezuela’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, said in a televised address that the government had not been able to confirm the whereabouts of Mr. Maduro or Ms. Flores. She accused the United States of what she called a “criminal military aggression” and said Venezuela had placed its armed forces on high alert. Her claims could not be independently verified.

In Washington, Senator Mike Lee, Republican of Utah, said he had been briefed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who told him that Mr. Maduro had been detained under longstanding U.S. criminal indictments. Senator Lee said the operation was intended to enforce an arrest warrant and ensure the safety of U.S. personnel involved.

Mr. Maduro has been indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice since 2020 on charges including narcotrafficking, narco-terrorism, and conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States. U.S. prosecutors have accused him of leading the so-called Cartel of the Suns, allegations Mr. Maduro has repeatedly denied, calling them politically motivated.

For years, the U.S. government has offered millions of dollars in rewards for information leading to Mr. Maduro’s arrest. Until now, the charges had not been enforced through direct military action.

Legal experts said any U.S. military operation on Venezuelan soil would raise immediate constitutional questions, particularly in the absence of congressional authorization. Senator Lee himself has previously expressed concern over presidential war powers and the lack of a formal authorization for the use of military force.

Across Latin America, governments have historically opposed foreign military intervention in the region, and diplomatic reaction was expected to be swift. As of Saturday morning, Venezuelan state media had not acknowledged any detention of Mr. Maduro, and his location remained unknown.

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Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order, Calling It Unconstitutional

Editor — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 11:07:12 +0000

A federal judge in Seattle has temporarily halted former President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship in the United States, describing the move as “blatantly unconstitutional.”

US District Court Judge John Coughenour issued a restraining order on Thursday after a brief 25-minute hearing, putting the controversial policy on hold for 14 days while legal challenges proceed. The order, which sought to deny citizenship to children born in the US to undocumented or temporary visa-holding parents, was set to apply to children born on or after February 19, according to court filings.

Under the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, nearly everyone born on US soil is automatically granted citizenship—a long-standing interpretation that Trump sought to upend. Four states—Washington, Arizona, Illinois, and Oregon—filed a lawsuit seeking to block the order, arguing that the president lacks the authority to amend the Constitution.

During the hearing, Judge Coughenour expressed disbelief at the administration’s justification for the order. “It boggles my mind,” he said, questioning the legal team’s preparation and understanding of constitutional law.

The states challenging the executive order argue that implementing it would result in “immediate and irreparable harm.” The lawsuit stated: “The individuals who are stripped of their United States citizenship will be rendered undocumented, subject to removal or detention, and many will be stateless.”

The Department of Justice (DoJ) defended the order, arguing that the clause “and subject to the jurisdiction thereof” in the 14th Amendment excludes children of non-citizens in the US unlawfully. They claimed the order was a necessary step to address the country’s “broken immigration system” and border challenges. However, the judge found the states’ arguments more compelling, stating that the extraordinary measure of a restraining order was warranted.

Washington State Attorney General Nicholas Brown applauded the ruling. “This decision reinforces the Constitution’s promise and protects vulnerable members of our communities,” he said during a press conference.

Legal experts say the case will likely make its way to the US Supreme Court, as Trump’s administration has signaled plans to appeal. Constitutional scholars have noted that overturning birthright citizenship without a direct constitutional amendment—which requires significant congressional and state approval—is highly improbable.

The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, was enacted to grant citizenship to formerly enslaved individuals and their descendants, solidifying the principle of birthright citizenship. Critics of Trump’s order argue that any effort to undo this foundational protection risks undermining decades of settled legal precedent.

In addition to the lawsuit brought by the four states, 18 other states, the District of Columbia, and San Francisco have joined separate legal challenges. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is also mounting its own case against the order.

For now, the judge’s decision ensures that the policy remains on hold, with its fate resting in the hands of the courts.

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