Live Updates: Trump States More U.S. Actions Against Venezuela ‘Will Not Be Necessary’
In the concluding stage of his trip to the United States, spanning thousands of miles from Caracas to New York City, Nicolás Maduro, the deposed president of Venezuela, was transported by helicopter past the Statue of Liberty to a federal detention facility in Brooklyn. This striking moment was captured on film, with America’s most significant emblem of liberty in the background — raising questions about the logistics involved in escorting a head of state to and from the Manhattan federal court, where Mr. Maduro faces charges related to drug trafficking and narco-terrorism. Following his arrest last week, which occurred amid a display of U.S. military strength, there was a surge of protests globally, including in New York City, further complicating the already sensitive security dynamics anticipated for what could be months or even years of court proceedings. This comes in the wake of several incidents of political violence in the United States that have sent shockwaves through the nation. Over the past year and a half, a gunman targeted President Trump during a campaign event in Pennsylvania; two Minnesota legislators, both Democrats, along with their spouses were shot, with two fatalities; and Charlie Kirk, a well-known right-wing figure, was killed while addressing an audience at a university in Utah. Mr. Maduro, a leader detested by many both in Venezuela and internationally, had previously lived under stringent security measures before his capture. U.S. authorities meticulously planned on Saturday to ensure the safe transfer of him and his wife, Cilia Flores, who also faces federal charges. Their journey involved a carefully coordinated handover among federal and local agencies that traversed continents, then New York State and the city. After Army Delta Force commandos apprehended the couple at dawn on Saturday in Caracas, they were taken to an American warship in the Caribbean, and subsequently transferred to a U.S. Navy installation in Guantánamo Bay. By late afternoon, they boarded a flight from Guantánamo Bay to Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, N.Y., followed by a helicopter ride to Manhattan’s West Side. This marks a significant moment for Mr. Trump, whose political ascent was propelled by reality television. However, there was no manipulation of the event: Mr. Maduro and Ms. Flores adhered to a standard flight plan sanctioned by the Federal Aviation Administration. Mr. Maduro’s arrival in Manhattan seemed reminiscent of a scripted television event. Credit…Ryan Murphy/Reuters When Mr. Maduro touched down at the West 30th Street Heliport, law enforcement had already secured the adjacent streets. A convoy of federal law enforcement vehicles then transported the couple to the local U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration headquarters before returning them to the heliport, where they boarded a Justice Department helicopter bound for the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. “A lot of attention is given to high-profile transports such as this case, but for us, it’s somewhat routine, as that’s part of our job,” remarked Dave Grogan, a retired supervisory deputy U.S. marshal with 25 years in the agency. Mr. Grogan indicated that agents are well-versed in working within New York City, where they are routinely deployed from around the country to assist with significant prosecutions. Ensuring security during Mr. Maduro’s trial necessitates extensive planning over months and coordination with various entities, including the Police Department and federal law enforcement agencies, he noted. “Transporting him is not significantly different from moving the president,” Mr. Grogan reflected, referring to Mr. Maduro. How local, state, and federal authorities will manage the couple’s transportation for court proceedings and the potential disruption to the city’s daily operations remains uncertain. During Joaquín Guzmán Loera’s trial, the Mexican drug kingpin known as El Chapo was transferred from a high-security prison in Manhattan to the federal courthouse in Brooklyn. Each appearance led to police completely shutting down the Brooklyn Bridge, causing massive traffic congestion. In contrast, Mr. Maduro and Ms. Flores were transported by helicopter from the Brooklyn detention center to a Wall Street heliport on Monday, and then driven to federal court, under the oversight of the U.S. Marshals Service, as stated by a security official informed about the situation. Craig Caine, a former inspector with the Marshals Service in New York and New Jersey, expressed skepticism that the agencies would continue using helicopters for Mr. Maduro’s transportation throughout his trial unless they assessed other methods as less secure. Helicopter flights have inherent risks, Mr. Caine noted, given that the aircraft are easily recognizable. Moving Mr. Maduro from the Wall Street heliport to a ground vehicle might also present challenges, as the defendant would be temporarily exposed to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive on one side and a ferry terminal and hotel on the other. “Everything will hinge on threat assessment,” Mr. Caine stated. Authorities are anticipated to convene within the next couple of weeks to strategize on Mr. Maduro’s transport, according to a law enforcement official privy to security protocols in New York City but not authorized to speak publicly. While specifics may vary, there exists a well-established protocol for transporting celebrities and notable global figures throughout the city, including to and from federal detention. Typically, federal marshals escort defendants from the detention center to the courthouse prior to their appearances, according to the law enforcement official familiar with the logistics of dignitary transport. Convoys often consist of highway patrol vehicles and tactical trucks — commonly known as BearCats — with a Police Department helicopter monitoring from above and officials at police headquarters in Manhattan tracking their every movement. Mr. Maduro was transported on the streets of Manhattan in a BearCat armored vehicle. Credit…Karsten Moran for The New York Times In the months ahead, authorities might relocate the couple to a different detention facility outside New York City. Currently, Mr. Maduro and Ms. Flores are detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center, a well-known federal jail in Brooklyn recognized for housing high-profile inmates. The detention center, a large concrete establishment located in the Sunset Park area, has accommodated some of the nation’s most notorious accused individuals waiting for trial, including R. Kelly, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Luigi Mangione. The facility, referred to as M.D.C., has faced persistent controversies over many years, including widespread violence, complaints regarding mold and vermin, and claims of mismanagement. Following the closure of the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan in 2021, it is now the sole federal jail in New York City. Some inmates with particularly sensitive circumstances at M.D.C. have been held in a section known as 4 North, which features a dormitory-style setting for about 20 occupants. Recently, this area has housed Sean Combs, the disgraced music mogul who was convicted last summer of offenses related to prostitution, and Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras. It remains unclear where within the jail Mr. Maduro is confined or what specific security measures are in place to ensure his safety. Mr. Grogan, the retired marshal, stated that the primary challenge as Mr. Maduro’s proceedings advance would likely be safeguarding both his and the public’s safety amidst possible protests, which have already emerged outside the courthouse in Manhattan on Monday. Yet, he noted, this isn’t unprecedented in New York. “I wouldn’t say it’s routine work, but the marshals and local authorities up there are highly skilled at managing these situations,” Mr. Grogan asserted. “This is what they signed up for. This is their vocation.”
Published: 2026-01-09 12:23:00
source: www.nytimes.com
