Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia vowed to offer reparations to American families affected by the gang Tren de Agua.
In a letter to Laken Riley’s family, first reported by Fox News, Urrutia and María Corina Machado, another opposition leader, wrote that they believe Riley’s death was a “direct consequence of Nicolás Maduro’s regime, which has fostered an environment where criminal organizations like the Tren de Aragua can flourish with impunity.”
“These groups are not merely criminal entities but rather extensions of a rogue state that has transformed Venezuela into a haven for organized crime, including human trafficking, drug smuggling, and terror,” they wrote. “We are resolutely committed to dismantling these criminal networks. As the incoming democratic government of Venezuela, we pledge to defeat the Maduro regime and rebuild our nation into one where such horrors are eradicated. We will hold accountable all those responsible for the devastation they have wrought, both within Venezuela and internationally.”
Urrutia and Machado asserted that they are “determined to prevent future tragedies like this from occurring. We solemnly pledge to dedicate all our efforts to ensure such a devastating loss never happens again.”
“Furthermore, we intend to establish a comprehensive framework for reparations, both for the countless Venezuelans harmed by this narco-state and also for victims abroad, including your family,” they wrote. “You deserve our steadfast support as well as justice.”
The opposition leaders noted that many of the Venezuelans who have come to the United States are “committed to upholding the law and contributing to your nation’s economy and society.”
“Please accept this letter as a message of our deepest condolence and a solemn promise: Laken will never be forgotten,” they added. “She will be remembered as an innocent victim of tyranny and a powerful catalyst for the change we are determined to bring about.”
