When President Donald Trump announced new actions against the Venezuelan government, many Venezuelan-American students had strong reactions. For them, the news wasn’t just politics, it was about their families, their memories, and their home country. Some students felt hopeful, some felt emotional, and others felt relieved that the United States was finally paying attention to what is happening in Venezuela.
For students like Federico, seeing the U.S. government take action feels like someone powerful is finally standing up for Venezuelans who have suffered for years. Many of these students have parents or grandparents who left Venezuela because life there became too difficult. Hearing that the U.S. is trying to help makes them feel like their home isn’t being ignored anymore.
Another student, junior Valentina Esperante, said the decision made her feel happier and more hopeful.
“This makes me feel happy that something is being done to help out my country,” she explained.
Valentina, like many others, has watched Venezuela’s problems get worse over time. She has heard stories from relatives about long lines for food, a lack of medicine, and dangerous conditions. For her, any effort to support change gives her a little more hope for the people still living there.
Junior Isabella Diaz shared a very emotional response.
“Trump making this decision improves my hope for Venezuela. My family lives there, and I miss them so much,” she said.
Isabella’s words show what many Venezuelan-American students go through. They may live safely in the United States, but their hearts are still with the family members they left behind. They think about them every day and hope that one day Venezuela can return to being a safe place.
Experts say moves like Trump’s can affect Venezuelans in different ways. They can put pressure on the government to change, which many people think is necessary. But sometimes they can also create new hardships in the short term. Even so, most students said they were glad that Venezuela was getting attention again. They believe that if more countries speak up, things might start to improve.
These reactions show how connected many teens at ILS still feel to Venezuela. For them, this situation isn’t just something they read about in class; it’s part of their real lives. Their families tell them what is happening, and they worry about loved ones every day. That’s why Trump’s announcement mattered so much to them. It made them feel seen and gave them hope that other countries care about what Venezuelans are going through.
In the end, Trump’s move brought a mix of emotions, but mostly it brought hope. These students want people to understand that even though they live far away, they still care deeply about Venezuela’s future. They dream of a day when the country is safer, stronger, and free again. And for the first time in a while, some of them feel like that future might be possible.
