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'I can't sleep.' Venezuelan in Soundview worried for loved ones after U.S. military capture of Maduro

Elizabeth Grullon clocked in to work Saturday after being up all day worried for her two sisters in Venezuela following the U.S. military action that led to the capture of leader Nicolas Maduro.

Jonathan Calixto

Jan 3, 2026, 11:07 PM

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A Venezuelan who lives in Soundview says she is worried for her family back in her native homeland after the U.S. military capture of President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday.

Elizabeth Grullon has worked at the Venezuelan restaurant Cachapa Cachapa for eight years. She clocked into work Saturday night to prepare native dishes with a new meaning and purpose.

"I’m eating something that really reminds me of my country, my land, my home," Grullon said.

Following the arrest of Maduro, Grullon told News 12 she was up all day speaking with her two sisters who still live in Venezuela.

"My sister called me around 1:30 in the morning to tell me she was hearing bombs going off, that things were exploding and things were falling from the sky," Grullon said.

The WhatsApp messages between the sisters in Spanish show Grullon's sister worried for her children. The 55-year-old said she could not think of any other comforting words, only left to respond, "everything will be OK."

After being up all day, Grullon said she could not imagine going to sleep calmly until she knows her sisters and other Venezuelans back home will be safe.

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