Latino Legislators Proud Of Being Called 'Terrorists' By Maduro’s Venezuelan Government

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced a travel ban against alleged human rights abusers including current American legislators, as well as other sanctions aimed at the U.S. government. Maduro’s ban followed an alleged coup, which his government says was orchestrated by the United States. Additional sanctions included new visa requirements for American tourists and a cutback on U.S. diplomatic staff.

The travel ban, announced in front of a cheering crowd on Saturday, included a number of Latino legislators from the U.S.: Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, Senator Marco Rubio (all three from Florida) and New Jersey Senator Bob Mendez. Maduro said that the travel ban was aimed those who “violated human rights and bombed villages as in Iraq, Syria and Vietnam.”

How did the American legislators react? On Twitter, most called for increased scrutiny of the Maduro government or saw the designation as a badge of honor. Using the hashtag sanctionedbymaduro, NJ Democrat Bob Mendez pledged to continue criticizing Venezuela.

Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida), tweeted in Spanish saying "I said on [VOA News] that it's an honor that tyrant Maduro had prohibited my entrance to Venezuela for fighting for [human rights] and [the Venezuelan opposition movement].

Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida) used the occasion to denounce Venezuela in a speech.