Since taking power in 2013, Nicholas Maduro has led Venezuela’s nation into an economic decline and become a communist dictator in a region familiar with brutal strongmen over the past century.

As a first generation Colombian American, I have seen the effects of Venezuela’s collapse not just from headlines, but from conversations with family and friends across the region and my own personal experience on many visits.

A forced displacement crisis

Colombia, which shares a border with Venezuela, has absorbed millions of refugees and felt the strain of increased drug trafficking, gang violence, and regional instability.

My aunt Maria lives in Medellin, Colombia, and has reported how the crime has gotten much worse in Medellin due to Venezuelan gangs. She says Venezuelan nationals are often

See Full Page