Venezuela Reopens Brazil Border After U.S. Strike

Overview

• The Pacaraima crossing, shut by Venezuelan authorities earlier in the day after a U.S. military attack and President Donald Trump’s claim of Nicolás Maduro’s capture, reopened in the afternoon with vehicles and pedestrians moving again.
• Roughly 25 Brazilians who had been held at the border were authorized by Venezuelan officials to cross back and returned without incident.
• Brazilian Army personnel conducted quick checks on arrivals as traffic resumed, and local reports noted no new restrictions on the Brazilian side.
• Roraima governor Antonio Denarium proposed a temporary Brazilian-side closure to prevent a mass entry of Venezuelans and said he briefed federal ministers on contingency plans.
• Pacaraima’s mayor said reception structures and security forces remain on alert, local businesses reported reduced trade during the shutdown, and some regional politicians publicly praised the U.S. action.