The legal battle raises questions over detention and due process.

On Thursday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores are expected to appear at their second court hearing before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

They were transported to that city two days after a military operation carried out on January 3, when they were kidnapped by U.S. commandos who raided Caracas, violating the sovereignty of Venezuelan territory.

The U.S. operation left more than 100 people dead, including civilians, military personnel and 32 Cuban soldiers serving in Venezuela as part of the Presidential Guard.

The first hearing was held Jan. 5. In his initial statements before a the court, President Maduro declared himself a “prisoner of war” and categorically rejected the charges against him, reaffirming his status as the legitimate head of state.

“I am the president of Venezuela, and I consider myself a prisoner of war. I was kidnapped from my home in Caracas,” he said, describing the circumstances of his detention as a military action that violates his presidential immunity and his country’s sovereignty.

Given the obvious illegality of the military operation that led to his arrest, the Bolivarian leader has reiterated that he is not a criminal defendant but a head of state kidnapped in the context of an international conflict.

Miles de personas se concentran en las afueras de la Corte del Distrito Sur de Nueva York, Estados Unidos, en apoyo del presidente de Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, y la diputada y primera dama, Cilia Flores. Esta concentración se produce a pocas horas de la segunda audiencia… pic.twitter.com/rs8mAnfQsR

— teleSUR TV (@teleSURtv) March 26, 2026

The text reads, “Thousands of people gathered outside the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in support of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. The demonstration took place just hours before the second court hearing.”

During his first court appearance, the Venezuelan president forcefully rejected the accusations brought by U.S. authorities.

“I am not guilty. I am a decent man. I remain the president of my country,” Maduro told the judge, drawing a fundamental distinction between his role as a democratically elected head of state and the charges Washington seeks to bring against him.

His legal team raised pending issues related to presidential immunity and the legality of his detention. A crucial aspect during the first hearing was that Maduro mentioned he had not previously been informed of the charges against him.

This detail is fundamental in procedural terms, as under international law and due process guarantees, any defendant must be formally notified of the charges before being subjected to detention or court appearance.

Since the early hours of Thursday morning, dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the Southern District Federal Court in Manhattan to express their support for President Maduro and first lady Flores.

Holding signs and Venezuelan flags, supporters showed solidarity with the presidential couple. The area around the courthouse saw a heavy security presence, while hundreds of media outlets occupied the main street.

Other cities have also become the scene of similar solidarity events, reflecting an international mobilization around the case.