President Trump is Cutting Off the Financial Resources of Maduro and His Regime

The people of Venezuela are standing for freedom and democracy, and the United States of America is standing right by their side. — President Donald J. Trump

Trump is taking action to isolate the illegitimate Maduro regime from the global financial system.

• The President signed an executive order imposing new sanctions on the Maduro regime, blocking all property of the Venezuelan Government in the jurisdiction of the United States.
• President Trump is directly targeting those who enable the illegitimate Maduro regime and undermine the National Assembly of Venezuela and Interim President Juan Guaido.
  • The President granted the Secretary of the Treasury the authority to block all property of individuals who provide material support to the Maduro regime.
• This executive order further isolates Maduro’s illegitimate regime from the global financial system and the international community.

CUTTING OFF THE REGIME’S FINANCIAL LIFELINE: President Trump will continue to cut off the financial resources of Maduro and his cronies and enablers.

• President Trump has used economic tools to increase pressure on the illegitimate and corrupt Maduro regime and those who support his egregious abuses.
• The Trump Administration has issued 30 rounds of sanctions targeting approximately 200 individuals and entities.
  • Sanctions have targeted corruption networks that steal from the Venezuelan people.
  • The United States has sanctioned key sectors of the Venezuelan economy exploited by the regime, including the oil and gold sectors.
  • President Trump has sanctioned Maduro’s financial lifelines, including the Venezuelan Central Bank, the Venezuelan Development Bank, and Petroleos de Venezuela.
  • The US has targeted Venezuela’s military and intelligence sector, which has committed horrible abuses against the Venezuelan people.
• The United States has also revoked more than 700 visas, including those held by more than 100 former regime diplomatic personnel, since January 2019.
• The President’s sanctions demonstrate a firm commitment to ensuring the democratic transition in Venezuela that its people deserve.

STANDING WITH THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA: President Trump stands with the Venezuelan people as they continue to fight for freedom, human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.

• The President maintains strong support for the Interim Venezuelan President Guaido and the democratically elected National Assembly.
• This action is not against the Venezuelan people, but against Maduro and his ongoing human rights abuses.
  • Maduro continues to rob the Venezuelan people of their resources while the people face a horrifying humanitarian crisis.
• The United States has taken careful measures to help provide the Venezuelan people with access to humanitarian aid, including food and medicine.

Dear Madam Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (8 U.S.C. 1182(f)), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby report that I have issued an Executive Order taking additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13692, as amended, as relied upon for additional steps taken in subsequent Executive Orders.

I have determined that it is necessary to block the property of the Government of Venezuela in light of the continued usurpation of power by the illegitimate Nicolas Maduro regime, as well as the regime’s human rights abuses, arbitrary arrest and detention of Venezuelan citizens, curtailment of free press, and ongoing attempts to undermine Interim President Juan Guaido of Venezuela and the democratically-elected Venezuelan National Assembly.

I am enclosing a copy of the Executive Order I have issued.

Sincerely,

DONALD J. TRUMP

Secretary of State Michael Pompeo:

While this is not an embargo, this significant action is in response to the continuing usurpation of power by Maduro and persons affiliated with him from the legitimate interim government of Interim President Guaido, as well as human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, torture, arbitrary arrest and detention of Venezuelan citizens, interference with freedom of expression, including for members of the media, and ongoing attempts to undermine Interim President Guaido and the democratically elected National Assembly’s exercise of legitimate authority in Venezuela.

Maduro’s repression of Venezuelans, in combination with the corruption and mismanagement by his illegitimate government, has dramatically negatively impacted the quality of life for average citizens who lack access to food, water, medicine and electricity, causing one of the worst man-made humanitarian disasters in the modern world.

“Treasury is committed to ensuring the unfettered flow of humanitarian aid to the people of Venezuela, who continue to suffer as a result of the mismanagement and corruption of the illegitimate former Maduro regime.  It is imperative that the international community continues to fully utilize humanitarian exemptions to ensure that food and supplies continue to flow to Venezuelans suffering from Maduro’s man-made economic crisis,” said Sigal Mandelker, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.  “The United States stands with the Venezuelan people and interim President Juan Guaidó in support of efforts to ensure that food, international aid, and resources reach vulnerable Venezuelans.  Treasury regulations have and will continue to allow for unimpeded humanitarian support to the Venezuelan people, and we encourage U.S. persons to employ these authorizations to engage with those in need.”