By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly news |
Venezuela Pushes Back Against U.S. Pressure
Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, says the country has had “enough” of taking orders from Washington, marking a sharp response to continued pressure from the Trump administration.
Rodríguez assumed office earlier this month following the dramatic arrest of former president Nicolás Maduro during a U.S. military operation, an event that plunged the country into political uncertainty.
Speaking via state-run broadcaster Venezolana de Televisión, Rodríguez declared that Venezuelans must be allowed to resolve their internal political differences without interference from foreign powers. Her remarks come amid ongoing U.S. military activity in the Caribbean and sustained pressure on Caracas over its political and economic direction.
While President Donald Trump initially declared that the United States would “run” Venezuela following Maduro’s capture, he later endorsed Rodríguez as interim leader. Despite this, Washington continues to push for expanded access for U.S. energy companies into Venezuela’s struggling oil sector—widely seen as a key driver of American involvement in the region.
Caricom Chair Dismisses Claims of T&T Involvement in Maduro Arrest
Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago has found itself under regional scrutiny following public praise by its government for U.S. military action in the Southern Caribbean and Venezuela.
Questions intensified after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar described Caricom as an “unreliable partner,” sparking speculation that Trinidad and Tobago’s stance on Venezuela may have placed it at odds with other Caribbean nations.
However, Caricom Chairman and Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Terrance Drew, has rejected claims of regional suspicion. He stated that there is no indication within Caricom that Trinidad and Tobago was complicit in the arrest of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces on January 3.
Dr. Drew sought to reassure the region that despite differing national positions, there remains no evidence of wrongdoing by Trinidad and Tobago within the bloc.
U.S. Judge Blocks Termination of Legal Status for Thousands of Migrants
In the United States, a federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to terminate the legal status of more than 8,400 migrants from seven Latin American countries.
U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued a preliminary injunction preventing the Department of Homeland Security from ending humanitarian parole for family members of U.S. citizens and green card holders from Cuba, Haiti, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
The migrants entered the U.S. under family reunification parole programmes created or expanded during the Biden administration, allowing them to live and work in the country while awaiting immigrant visas.
The Trump administration argued the programmes were inconsistent with its immigration priorities and claimed they were being abused. The termination was scheduled to take effect on January 14, but the court intervened, first issuing a temporary restraining order before extending protections through Saturday’s ruling.
The decision comes as the Trump administration ramps up immigration enforcement, with a proposed $170 billion budget allocated to immigration agencies through September 2029.
