The Mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, has reacted to the reported capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife by U.S. military forces, expressing strong concern over what he described as an unlawful act of war and the decision to place the Venezuelan leader in federal custody in New York.
In a public statement issued on Wednesday, Mamdani said he was briefed earlier in the day on the development and on plans for Maduro’s incarceration within New York City. He warned that the military action carries profound legal and humanitarian implications.
“Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and international law,”
the Mayor said.
Mamdani added that the situation extends beyond foreign policy and directly affects local communities in the city, particularly tens of thousands of Venezuelan residents who live in New York and are watching events unfold with anxiety.
“This blatant pursuit of regime change doesn’t just affect those abroad — it directly impacts New Yorkers,”
he stated.
The Mayor said his administration’s priority remains public safety, noting that city agencies are actively monitoring the situation and will issue guidance where necessary as events continue to develop.
OYOGist reports that Mamdani’s remarks add to growing political reaction across the United States as officials, lawmakers and civil society groups respond to the unfolding situation surrounding Venezuela and the handling of its detained leadership.
