On Thursday, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro spoke about a two-year-old girl, Maikelys Espinoza, who allegedly had a connection with 252 members of Tren de Aragua. He suggested she was “taken” and sent to the U.S. and El Salvador, asserting that “the real dream is Venezuelan.”
The narrative surrounding Venezuelan immigrants being deported relates to the May Day celebrations for the Communist holiday in 2025, with a special emphasis on the story of Maikelys.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), last week, several parents illegally entered the U.S. while linked to various crimes associated with Tren de Aragua, including drug trafficking and murder. The child was deported back to Venezuela by her mother, Yorely Bernal, while her father remains in custody.
During a May Day speech in Caracas, Maduro declared that efforts would be made to “save the children of El Salvador” and questioned the path of the American people, contrasting justice with what he termed an extreme right-wing dictatorship.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op_bqgr7ftg
He criticized opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and her supporters for allegedly perpetuating negative narratives about Venezuelan immigrants.
Maduro stated, “From Petare, today, May 1st, over 1 million people mobilized in Caracas. We aim to rescue Maikelys Espinoza and the 253 individuals from Salvador,” emphasizing a communal effort to address the issue.
@nicolasmadurom Más TempranoQue Tarde Vamos a #Rescatar Sana y Salva A Nuestra #Ninya Maikelys Espinoza Ya Los 253 Secuestrados en el Salvador.
Maduro outlined his vision for Venezuela, describing the “real dream” as a shared effort with workers to foster a diverse economy. He insisted that protecting the homeland is a crucial mission.
He further urged immigrants to contribute to this goal, emphasizing unity against what he termed fascism.
Yorely Bernal, Maikelys’ mother, expressed her grievances on VTV, lamenting the lack of explanation from U.S. authorities regarding her daughter’s deportation.
“ICE told me I’d have a court hearing, yet I just wanted to keep my daughter. They didn’t provide me with reasons,” she stated, adding that she still hasn’t received clarity on her child’s situation.
Bernal called on the U.S. government to prove any allegations against her, noting that these claims seem intended to obscure her daughter’s circumstances.
Reports suggest that Bernal was involved in recruiting for criminal activities, while both she and her husband faced deportation after being linked to serious charges, including murder and sex trafficking.
This narrative has also made its way into the rhetoric of other leaders, such as Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega, as they criticize U.S. policies toward their regimes. Maduro claimed such deportations are being handled unjustly by the Trump administration.
Amid the ongoing crisis, Maduro vowed to save those detained and announced that a recent proposal involving the exchange of political prisoners was rejected.
While the May Day focus was on rescuing children and political prisoners, the Maduro administration also highlighted a wage increase for workers, though many groups criticized it as inadequate, arguing that it primarily served to obscure economic realities.
May Day celebrations also included a new episode of Maduro’s animated character, “Super Mustache,” touted as a symbol of the strength of the working class.
@nicolasmadurom Este Glorio 1may, Dia del Travallador, Nos Reunimos Para Rendeir Homenaje a la Fuerza in Inuestra Claseobrera, El Indomable Corazón delare Volución Bolivariana.
In this episode, Maduro’s character highlighted the resilience of the Venezuelan people in the face of sanctions and economic challenges, praising their spirit of resistance and love for their homeland.
