Venezuelan Ambassador Slams Trump Over U.S. Separation Of Asylum-Seeking Family At Abuja Independence Day Event

The Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Nigeria hosted a diplomatic event in Abuja on Saturday, July 5, to mark the 214th anniversary of Venezuela’s independence from Spanish colonial rule.

The annual celebration, which marks the historic July 5, 1811, declaration of independence, brought together members of the diplomatic corps, civil society organisations, and activists in a show of solidarity with the Venezuelan people.

Speaking at the event, Venezuela’s Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Alberto Castelar, highlighted the historical journey of his country and the ongoing struggles it faces on the global stage.

“That the country got independent from the Spanish colonial masters two hundred and fourteen years ago. This was made possible by Simon Bolivar, the liberator. Following that, there were many challenges, but the arrival of Commandant Hugo Chavez changed the course of history, and President Nicolas Maduro has continued to uphold the Legacy,” he said.

Ambassador Castelar also addressed the challenges facing Venezuelans abroad, particularly in the United States, where recent immigration policies have separated families and created diplomatic tensions.

He cited the case of a Venezuelan toddler, Maikelys Espinoza, who was recently returned to Venezuela after being separated from her parents due to their deportation by U.S. authorities.

He said, “The country today is fighting against imperialism, capitalism and fascism. The coming of Trump and new immigration rules in the United States of America has opened another challenge for the Venezuelan people. A Venezuelan toddler, Maikelys Espinoza, was recently returned to Venezuela after being separated from her parents due to their deportation by the US government,” Castelar said.

“The parents, who had sought asylum in the US, were deported under accusations of gang affiliation, specifically with the Tren de Aragua. The toddler's return was secured after diplomatic efforts by Venezuelan officials and a decision by the US to repatriate her. While the mother and daughter are reunited, the father remains in custody in El Salvador. The Venezuelan government is continuing its efforts to secure his release and return.”

He concluded his remarks by reaffirming the strength of bilateral relations between Venezuela and Nigeria, stating, “Venezuela has a very good relationship with Nigerians and a cordial diplomatic relationship with the Nigerian government.”

The event was attended by diplomatic representatives including a delegation from the Cuban Embassy led by Ana Fravia, as well as a number of Nigerian civil society leaders and labour activists.

Among them were Comrade Martin Egabanubi, General Secretary of the National Union of Health and Allied Professionals (NUAHP), and Comrade Gerald Katchy, Public Relations Officer of the Committee for Defence of Human Rights, who both extended their congratulations to Ambassador Castelar and commended Venezuela for “standing against the bullying of the United States of America.”

Also present at the event were Comrade Dimeji Macaulay, Coordinator of the Anti-Fascist Movement; Comrade Blessing Yusuf, Chairperson of the Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria (FIWON); Mr Charles C. Agubor, Executive Director of Committed Advocates Of Integrity Initiative (CADII); and Mr Abiodun Emmanuel Fayemi, head of African Farmers and Agricultural Practitioners (AFAP).

The celebration ended with renewed calls for a more just global order free from sanctions, oppression, and imperialism.