We should be very alarmed by the Trump administration’s military actions in Venezuela.
After the capture of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores, the Trump administration stated its intention to “run” Venezuela and take control of its oil resources. All of this raises grave concerns for the human rights of the Venezuelan population.
We’re sounding the alarm. We know that when international law is ignored, human rights violations and deadly protracted conflicts often follow.
But there’s something we can do: We don’t have to just watch in horror as the Trump administration acts outside the law.
Urge Congress to uphold its responsibilities as a check on any abuses of presidential power in Venezuela and elsewhere.
We must speak out before people in Venezuela suffer even more. Before other governments are emboldened to take similar unlawful action.
The U.S. government—including Congress—must ensure the rights of Venezuelans are respected.
This attack follows the U.S. military’s illegal extrajudicial killings of over 100 people in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, allegedly targeting Venezuelan drug cartels.
The U.S. government must not be allowed to disregard international law and decide to capture or kill anyone, anywhere, anytime.
We’re particularly concerned about an escalation in attacks on Venezuelans at-risk, either from additional U.S. operations or from the Venezuelan government.
Those most immediately at risk include human rights defenders and political activists who have endured and courageously opposed the Maduro government’s human rights violations and crimes under international law for years.
Congress must provide oversight to ensure human rights are protected. But they need to know their constituencies are behind them—which is why it’s so important for you to speak out today.
We at Amnesty are closely in touch with our colleagues in Venezuela. We are monitoring the human rights situation, including escalations in violations, and advocating for the human rights of Venezuelans in and outside of the country.
We can’t let this continue. Urge Congress to act immediately to hold the Trump administration accountable for its attacks and prevent further violations of human rights.