Venezuelan families sue Nicolás Maduro in the United States, alleging he directed FAES unit tied to extrajudicial killings

Families of five Venezuelan men filed a lawsuit in the United States accusing former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of directing and overseeing the FAES police unit, alleging the unit was tied to extrajudicial killings, according to Fox News. The complaint, brought by family members of the men, centers on allegations that state security operations carried out by or under the control of FAES resulted in deaths that the families say were unlawful and carried out without due process.

The lawsuit specifically alleges that Maduro, through his authority in Venezuela, oversaw FAES, a unit described in the complaint as responsible for killings outside the normal legal process. The families argue that the chain of command and administrative responsibility place Maduro in a role beyond individual officers, according to the report.

According to the Fox News description of the case, the plaintiffs seek accountability in U.S. court for the alleged abuses connected to the deaths of the five men. The suit frames the alleged conduct as extrajudicial, describing it as killings carried out by security forces that did not follow legally required procedures.

The filing also underscores the role of families who say they were left without credible recourse in the Venezuelan system after their relatives were killed. The report indicates the lawsuit is intended to pursue legal remedies through the American judicial process rather than relying on investigations or prosecutions they say did not materialize.

The allegations in the lawsuit have not been established in court based on the reporting summarized by Fox News. As with other civil actions involving overseas conduct and senior political figures, the case will depend on how the court evaluates jurisdiction, admissibility of evidence, and the legal standards applied to claims against high-level officials.

If the case proceeds, additional filings and court rulings will determine whether the lawsuit can move forward, which claims survive, and what evidence the plaintiffs can present regarding command authority and the circumstances surrounding the deaths. The next steps will likely include motions addressing the scope of alleged responsibility and any procedural defenses raised by the defendants.

The lawsuit adds to ongoing scrutiny of Venezuela’s security and policing practices, particularly over past reports and claims concerning the use of lethal force by specialized units. It also highlights the increasing use of U.S. courts by families seeking accountability where they believe domestic processes failed to provide effective oversight or punishment for alleged abuses.