Texas Border Business
Texas Border Business
Texas lawmakers responded with a mix of praise, caution, and calls for legal accountability following the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro during a U.S. military operation.
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said Maduro’s capture marked a significant step against international crime networks. “Kudos to President Trump,” Cornyn said, adding that Maduro “was not only an illegitimate President of Venezuela, but he was also the head of the Cartel de los Soles, a major drug trafficking network involving high-ranking Venezuelan military officers and government officials.” Cornyn noted that Maduro “has been indicted in the Southern District of New York for narco-terrorism conspiracy and other crimes.”
Cornyn also pointed to Maduro’s foreign ties, saying his “association with the Iranian regime and its proxy, Hezbollah, helped fund terrorism in South America and the Middle East.” He further said Maduro was involved with “the ‘ghost fleets’ of Russia, Iran, and China, used to evade U.S. sanctions and fund the Russian war on Ukraine.”
Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas described the operation as part of a longer historical pattern of enforcing the rule of law. Cuellar compared Maduro’s arrest to the 1989 detention of Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega, saying it “underlined the importance of the rule of law even in times of conflict.” He said the capture of Maduro, along with what he described as “highly targeted strikes against narcoterrorist infrastructure,” reflected both decisive action and restraint.
Cuellar called the moment “important for democracy, peace, and the future of children across Latin America and the United States.” He said it offered “hope to countless victims of narco-violence” and an opportunity for Venezuela to begin “the difficult work of restoring stability, accountability, and opportunity.” Cuellar said those outcomes are in the shared interest of Venezuela, the region, and the United States.
He also urged caution going forward. Cuellar thanked U.S. military and law enforcement personnel for their “courage and professionalism,” but said the next steps should be guided by “de-escalation, protection of innocent lives, regional stability, and respect for constitutional and international norms.”
Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas praised the operation while emphasizing congressional authority over future military actions. “The world witnessed an extraordinary operation that was executed by our CIA and military,” Gonzalez said. “For that, I am grateful.”
Gonzalez stressed limits on executive power, saying that “any further military intervention by the United States must receive congressional authorization.” He also highlighted the legal basis for Maduro’s detention, noting that “since 2020, Nicolás Maduro has been under indictment by a Federal Court in the Southern District of New York—and it was important that he be brought to justice.”
Together, the reactions from Cornyn, Cuellar, and Gonzalez reflected agreement that Maduro’s capture was significant, while also showing differences in emphasis on national security, regional stability, and the constitutional role of Congress in authorizing future military action.
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