Boise City Wire

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), U.S. Representative Michael McCaul (R-Texas), and U.S. Representative Maria Salazar (R-Fla.) have called on the Biden Administration to reinstate sanctions on the Maduro regime in Venezuela. The politicians released a statement expressing their concern over the regime's failure to uphold its commitments to the Biden Administration.

In their statement, the lawmakers condemned the disqualification of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and the ongoing arrests of Venezuelan opposition members. They highlighted that these actions directly contradict the regime's promises.

"Maduro has once again broken his commitments to the Biden Administration. The disqualification of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and other ongoing arrests of the Venezuelan opposition run counter to the regime's promises," the statement read.

The lawmakers emphasized the need for immediate action by the Biden Administration to hold Maduro accountable. They called for the reinstatement of all sanctions that were removed since October 2022. They also urged the European Union and other regional partners in the Western Hemisphere to match the sanctions imposed by the United States.

Additionally, the lawmakers stressed the importance of seeking international cooperation in the arrest and extradition of Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela's former president. They argued that denying the Maduro regime access to resources is crucial in preventing gross violations of human rights and maintaining regional and international peace.

"We must deny the Maduro regime the resources to commit gross violations of internationally recognized human rights and threaten regional and international peace," the statement concluded.

The call to reinstate sanctions on the Maduro regime reflects the ongoing concern among U.S. lawmakers about the political and human rights situation in Venezuela. The nation has been grappling with a deep economic and political crisis, with widespread allegations of corruption and authoritarianism under Maduro's leadership.

The statements from Senator Risch, Representative McCaul, and Representative Salazar highlight the bipartisan support for a stronger stance against the Maduro regime. They join a growing chorus of voices demanding accountability and justice for the Venezuelan people.

It remains to be seen how the Biden Administration will respond to this call for action. The reinstatement of sanctions could have significant implications for U.S.-Venezuela relations and may impact the broader geopolitical landscape in the Western Hemisphere.

As the situation in Venezuela continues to deteriorate, the international community will be closely watching the actions taken by the United States and its allies. The hope is that these actions will help alleviate the suffering of the Venezuelan people and promote democracy and human rights in the country.