Dear John,

This week marks a pivotal moment for Venezuela as the January 10 presidential inauguration approaches amidst escalating political and social tension. The week started with a visit from Edmundo González Urrutia to Washington DC, where he met with President Biden as well as with Representatives and Senators in the U.S. Congress. On Wednesday, WOLA, alongside four other international organizations, issued a statement urging respect for human rights in Venezuela as we approach this date. The statement underscores the repressive environment surrounding Venezuela’s political process and the systematic crackdown on civil society.

A new wave of arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances is unfolding in Venezuela, including the brief and highly symbolic detention of opposition leader María Corina Machado yesterday, following massive protests. The circumstances surrounding her detention remain unclear.  Additionally, former presidential candidate Enrique Márquez, Rafael Tudares—son-in-law of Edmundo González Urrutia—and prominent human rights defender Carlos Correa have also been detained. Carlos Correa is a journalist and director of the NGO Espacio Público, a partner of WOLA. He was intercepted by masked men in Caracas and his whereabouts remain unknown. His case starkly illustrates how arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances are used to silence dissent and stifle civil society in Venezuela. WOLA stands with over 40 organizations in demanding Carlos’s immediate release, transparency about his whereabouts, and the protection of his well-being.

As WOLA’s Director for Venezuela, I have brought these urgent concerns to global audiences through interviews with major media outlets, including The New York Times, CNN, Al Jazeera, and El Tiempo. Media attention is crucial to exposing the alarming conditions that preceded the June 28 elections and for discussing Venezuela's future in relation to Maduro's regime and the implications of Trump’s new term.

The stakes are high—not just for Venezuela, but for the entire region. Elections are a matter of human rights, and if Maduro retains power without evidence of his alleged victory, it sets a dangerous precedent for democracies worldwide. With calls for protests intensifying and human rights violations escalating, the international community must remain vigilant and demand action. January 10 marks a critical milestone in the ongoing fight for inclusive democracy and human rights.

Kind regards,

Laura Dib

Director for Venezuela

For human rights activists across Latin America right now, the stakes are high. Violence around elections is on the rise, as are threats against those who speak in favor of justice and accountability.

Your support of WOLA creates space to amplify the voices of those who put their life on the line to champion human rights; from Caracas, to San Salvador, and everywhere in between.

“That in just 10 years Venezuela has gone from being the second largest receiver of migrants in South America to become the main expeller of migrants, without there having been an armed conflict, is a gigantic change in the migratory patterns of the continent.” This article is in Spanish.

Carolina Jiménez Sandoval

President

– BBC News Mundo, Los mapas que muestran en qué países de América Latina están los migrantes venezolanos, el mayor éxodo de la historia de la región

“Unless you’ve paid off the right people or managed to achieve an appointment for an asylum hearing, it’s very difficult to continue north. Mexico has effectively stopped issuing humanitarian visas. In 2022, they were issuing 150,000 a month, now the number is closer to 300.”

Adam Isacson

Director for Defense Oversight

– World Politics Review, Mexico Is Doing the United States’ Dirty Work on Migration

“Everyone has the right to seek asylum in the United States and to pursue legal proceedings, but having proper counsel is key to making informed decisions about available options.” This article is in Spanish.

Maureen Meyer

Vice President for Programs

– La Prensa, Se venció el plazo del parole pero los que quieren quedarse todavía pueden cambiar su estatus migratorio

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