PHOTO Images from Europe after the capture of Maduro

Venezuelan migrants around the world began celebrating on Saturday after Nicolas Maduro was forcibly removed from power in Venezuela, whose government has caused one of the largest migratory exodus in recent history, Reuters and the New York Post note.

Jubilant people took to the streets in the United States, South America and Europe in the hours after dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured by the United States and taken to the United States to face federal criminal charges.

DIRECT | Tens of Venezuelans gathered in Madrid's Puerta del Sol to celebrate the capture of Nicolás Maduro. Al son de la música folklórica llanera, algunos bailan enfundados en la bandera tricolor venezolana https://t.co/fDshHa7nd2

🎥 @FernandoPeinado pic.twitter.com/I4qkw5jXuP

— EL PAÍS (@el_pais) January 3, 2026

In Spain, thousands gathered in central Madrid's Puerta del Sol and cheered as they watched Trump's news conference live.

In the South Florida city of Doral, home to the largest Venezuelan community in the US, hundreds of people celebrated in the streets since 4am. “Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!” the crowd chanted.

Songs of celebration for Maduro's capture rang out in the streets of Chile's capital, where Venezuelans gathered to share their joy.

Nas ruas do Chile, Venezuelans commemorate the fall of dictator Maduro pic.twitter.com/9w4Hy9HM7h

— Sam Pancher (@SamPancher) January 3, 2026

“We are free. We are all happy that the dictatorship has fallen and that we have a free country,” said Khaty Yanez, a Venezuelan who has spent the past seven years in Chile.

“My joy is too great. After so many years, after so many struggles, after so much work, today is the big day. Today is the day of freedom,” said her compatriot Jose Gregorio.

In Peru's capital, Lima, dozens of Venezuelans gathered, many wrapped in their country's flag, to mark Maduro's ouster.

🇻🇪 🇵🇪 The Venezuelan community celebrated the capture of Nicolás Maduro by the American Government.

🔗 https://t.co/TcidjZevY4#LaRepública #NicolásMaduro #VenezolanosEnPerú pic.twitter.com/p7RSjsZ8MY

— La República (@larepublica_pe) January 3, 2026

Venezuelan migrant Milagros Ortega, whose parents are still in Venezuela, said she hopes to return.

“Knowing that my father lived to see the fall of Nicolas Maduro is very emotional. I would like to see his face,” she said.

Groups of Venezuelans are also expected to gather to celebrate in Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires.

“I believe beyond this there is a light”

After the initial joy, doubts also arose about the future of Venezuela, as Venezuelans abroad wondered what the future holds for their country and its citizens.

Andres Losada, who has lived in Spain for three years and is among the 400,000 Venezuelans living in the country, according to official figures, said he was torn between worry and joy about the situation in Venezuela.

“Although what the people of Caracas are going through is hard, I believe that beyond it there is a light that will lead us to freedom,” he added.

A fifth of Venezuela's population has emigrated in the past decade

Since 2014, some 7.7 million Venezuelans, or 20 percent of the population, have left the country, unable to afford food or seeking better opportunities abroad, according to the UN's International Organization for Migration.

Neighboring Colombia received the largest share of the diaspora, with about 2.8 million Venezuelans, followed by 1.7 million in Peru, according to the R4V platform, a group of regional NGOs assisting Venezuelan migrants and refugees set up by the UN migration agency.

For years, the United States has been a haven for Venezuelans, but many have been labeled criminals and forced to seek refuge elsewhere during President Donald Trump's second term.