The US faces deadly consequences with Maduro in power, as the Venezuelan opposition warns of weaponized migration.

If Nicolás Maduro remains in power as the Venezuelan political crisis escalates, there will be a rise in Tren de Aragua gang violence with severe consequences for the U.S.

Although many Venezuelans and the international community believe that Maduro lost the 2024 presidential election to opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, he was inaugurated for his third six-year term on Friday.

With opposition leader María Corina Machado urging Venezuelan citizens to join her in demanding González's installation as the legitimate president of Venezuela, the stage is now set for a confrontation with the Maduro regime.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Machado, whose supporters claimed she was briefly detained by authorities following a rally on Thursday, cautioned that if Maduro's rule continues unchecked, there will be a significant influx of Venezuelan migrants into the United States.

She warned that if Maduro stays in power, we can expect between three and five million Venezuelans to cross the border.

Machado emphasized the importance of safety for American people in a conversation with Planet Chronicle Digital.

"We also desire to solve the migration issue in our region," she stated. "We hope for the return of Venezuelans in billions and voluntarily. This will occur when they perceive a future in their country."

If Maduro remains president, gang violence in the U.S. by the Maduro-aligned criminal group Tren de Aragua will worsen, according to José Gustavo Arocha, a former high-ranking Venezuelan military official who fled persecution by the Maduro regime.

The Tren de Aragua, or TdA, is a notorious international gang that targets both Venezuelan migrants and Americans. In recent months, the gang has been responsible for a wave of violence, including kidnapping, torture, robbery, and even taking control of entire apartment buildings.

If Maduro remains in power, he will likely use the Tren de Aragua as a tool for coercion and asymmetric tactics to achieve his objectives, according to Arocha, a senior fellow for the U.S.-based Center for a Secure Free Society.

"To ease economic sanctions and gain legitimacy from the United States, migration will be weaponized with elements of the Tren de Aragua," he stated. "Repression, economic collapse, and chaos in Venezuela will continue to be the cornerstones of Maduro's state policy. As a result, migrants who are deported will likely return, as they have established logistical routes that enable them to navigate clandestine pathways along the southern border."

Alberto Ray, a security and risk strategist who advises Machado on security matters, stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that the situation in Venezuela is "highly volatile." He added that "more Maduro means more Tren de Aragua in the US."

Ray stated that most Venezuelan migrants are diligent and trustworthy individuals. However, he argued that Maduro has been exploiting migration to create conflict and instability in the U.S. Ray predicted that the presence of TdA in the U.S. will increase if the Maduro government continues.

"Ray stated that only a small number of Venezuelans involved in migration processes designed by the regime can cause chaos and organized crime in the U.S. However, if Maduro remains in power, illegal and weaponized migration from Venezuela is likely to continue, increasing the likelihood of gangs like Tren de Aragua and others to migrate and establish themselves in the region, including the U.S."

If Maduro is stopped, "we will see Venezuelans returning to Venezuela because many of them didn't want to leave," said Ray.

Ray urged the U.S. government to take a strong stance against Maduro, not only for the sake of the Venezuelans but for Americans as well. He urged the U.S. government to shed light on what is happening in Venezuela and to strictly enforce already-existing sanctions against Maduro and several members of his government.

"The following 72 hours will be crucial," he stated.

"Ray stated that Maduro has no support outside of some factions within the armed forces, and he is relying on those factions to maintain his position as president. Ray emphasized that there are not two equal sides in Venezuela, but rather a large democratic movement seeking to restore democracy and a small group in power fighting to maintain their privileges and power."