Maduro was arrested in Brooklyn after Trump’s strike on Venezuela, Mamdani and Harris.
The Trump-ordered operation in Venezuela has left President Nicolás Maduro behind bars in Brooklyn, sparking public opposition to NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and former Vice President Kamala Harris.
According to The Hill, Maduro is being held in federal custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center after being captured and removed from power during a US military operation ordered by President Donald Trump. The newspaper reported that Maduro arrived in New York late Saturday and is expected to remain in custody while awaiting trial in court.
Maduro was moved to New York following his capture, and a video emerged that showed him being escorted by federal agents to the Drug Enforcement Administration office in the city. Earlier images cited by the station show a man believed to be Maduro being escorted off the plane after landing in New York, surrounded by dozens of workers on the tarmac.
Mamdani Rejects As Maduro’s Arrest Remains in New York
The Independent reports that Mamdani said that he personally called Trump to oppose the action of the US military in Venezuela and the decision to detain Maduro in Brooklyn, warning that this action will have direct consequences for the people of New York.
“I called the president and spoke to him directly to register that I am against this action,” Mamdani said at a press conference on Saturday.
Mamdani was the one who started the call which the assistants described as short, then he ended the conversation after clearly stating that he did not want to object.
“I registered my opposition, I made it clear and we left it at that,” said Mamdani.
Mamdani said he was informed of the kidnapping of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and their arrest in a federal prison in New York City.
“Invading a sovereign country for a single charge is an act of war and a violation of federal and international law,” Mamdani wrote on the X site.
Mamdani emphasized that the administration’s work goes beyond foreign policy and directly affects the people of New York, especially Venezuelan citizens living in the city.
“This long-awaited regime change does not only affect those abroad, it directly affects the people of New York, including tens of thousands of Venezuelans who call this city home,” said Mamdani.
Harris Calls Operation ‘Illegal’ And ‘Unwise’
According to Hollywood Unlocked, Harris joined many congressional leaders in criticizing Trump’s decision to arrest and impeach Maduro, calling the move “illegal” and “unwise,” and arguing that it was driven by oil interests rather than public safety or democratic principles.
“Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela do not make America safer, stronger, or more affordable,” Harris wrote in a statement shared with X. “That Maduro is a brutal, illegitimate dictator does not change the fact that this act was illegal and senseless.”
Harris directly challenged the administration’s stated rationale for the project.
“This isn’t about drugs or democracy. It’s about oil and Donald Trump’s desire to play regional hero,” Harris wrote.
According to his statement, Harris warned that the operation could destabilize the region while putting American troops at risk.
“The President is putting the military at risk, spending billions, disrupting the region, and not providing the authority of the law, an exit plan, and no gains at home,” Harris said.
Charges and Follow up
The Hill reports that a recently closed indictment in the Southern District of New York charges Maduro and Flores with conspiracy to import cocaine and other crimes. Maduro was previously indicted in 2020 on similar charges, although the revised indictment includes new allegations and officially names his wife as a defendant.
Hollywood Unlocked reports that Trump has again referred to Venezuela’s oil reserves and, following Maduro’s capture, said the United States would “run” Venezuela and “repair the oil infrastructure,” while also saying the US would store and sell the captured oil.
According to The Independent, Maduro may appear in federal court on Monday. Mamdani acknowledged that his administration has limited authority over federal maintenance decisions, but said his focus is on reducing the impact of the federal government’s actions on the daily lives and safety of New Yorkers.
With public opposition from both City Hall leaders and national Democratic leaders, New York City has become a hotbed of political and legal conflict.
