Cornyn, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Commending Trump’s Operation Absolute Resolve in Venezuela & Arrest of Narcoterrorist Maduro

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Cornyn, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Commending Trump’s Operation Absolute Resolve in Venezuela & Arrest of Narcoterrorist Maduro

January 13, 2026

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) led Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) today in introducing a resolution commending President Trump’s Operation Absolute Resolve, praising the bravery and gallantry of United States service members and law enforcement officers who participated in the arrest of Nicolás Maduro to bring him to justice, and supporting President Trump’s efforts to assist the Venezuelan people in their fight for freedom.

Text is below, and you can view the full resolution here.

“Whereas, between 2000 and 2013, Nicolas Maduro served in various offices in the Government of Venezuela, including in the National Assembly, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, and as Vice President;

Whereas, on April 14, 2013, Nicolas Maduro came to occupy the office of President of Venezuela following the death of former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, and later through an election that was marred by irregularities;

Whereas, on May 20, 2018, Nicolas Maduro declared victory in a fraudulent presidential election in which major opposition parties and leaders were banned from participating and of which more than 50 countries, including the United States, refused to recognize the results;

Whereas, on January 23, 2019, the National Assembly of Venezuela refused to recognize Nicolas Maduro as President of Venezuela and named, as the Interim President of Venezuela, Juan Guaido, who was so recognized by the United States and more than 23 other countries;

Whereas, on July 28, 2024, Nicolas Maduro declared victory in a second fraudulent presidential election, the results of which were not recognized by more than 50 countries, including the United States, the European Union, and numerous Latin American and Caribbean nations;

Whereas, on January 10, 2025, Nicolas Maduro held an illegitimate presidential inauguration in Venezuela, which was condemned by the Government of the United States;

Whereas, according to a March 2020 estimate by the Government of the United States, under Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela was a major transit country for cocaine shipments to the United States, South America, and Europe, accounting for 200 to 250 metric tons annually (or 10 to 13 percent of the estimated global production of cocaine);

Whereas the Department of State found that the Maduro regime “failed to make any meaningful efforts to stem drug production or trafficking and in fact created conditions that allow drug traffickers and other transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) to operate with impunity”;

Whereas drug trafficking in Venezuela enriched and empowered the family of Nicolas Maduro, including his wife, Cilia Flores, who took bribes to ensure safe passage of trafficked cocaine, and his son, Nicolas Ernesto Maduro Guerra, who allowed state assets to be used in drug trafficking;

Whereas the Cartel de los Soles is a Venezuelan drug trafficking organization comprised of high-ranking Venezuelan officials who abused their positions in the Venezuelan government and military to flood the United States with cocaine and harm Americans;

Whereas, effective November 24, 2025, the Department of State designated the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization;

Whereas Nicolas Maduro helped manage and ultimately led the Cartel de los Soles as he rose to power in Venezuela;

Whereas Tren de Aragua is a transnational criminal organization, originating in Venezuela, which engages in mass illegal migration to the United States and commits brutal crimes, including murder, kidnapping, extortion, and human, drug, and weapons trafficking, with the objective of harming United States citizens;

Whereas numerous members and leaders of Tren de Aragua have been indicted on murder-for-hire, drug trafficking, firearms, and other offenses within the United States;

Whereas, effective February 20, 2025, the Department of State designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization;

Whereas Tren de Aragua coordinated with, and operated in conjunction with, the Maduro-led Cartel de los Soles to flood the United States with cocaine;

Whereas, the Revolutionary Forces of Colombia (FARC) and its successor organizations, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC-EP) and Segunda Marquetalia and the National Liberation Army (ELN), control drug trafficking routes in the border region between Venezuela and Colombia;

Whereas, the FARC was designated as a foreign terrorist organization on October 8, 1997, prior to its dissolution, its successor organizations, the FARC-EP and Segunda Marquetalia, have been designated as foreign terrorist organizations since November 30, 2021, and the ELN has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization since October 8, 1997;

Whereas, the Department of State found the FARC, FARC-EP, and ELN maintained close