HOUSTON — Vice President Mike Pence promised action in Venezuela during a speech Friday at Rice University’s Baker Institute.
The Houston area is home to the nation’s second largest Venezuelan community.
That includes families of six Citgo oil execs imprisoned there.
“We’re with you,” said Pence, in Spanish, during his speech.
He told the crowd the Trump administration considers all options on the table when it comes to the crisis in Venezuela.
“We support the rule of law,” said Pence. “And we recognize Nicolas Maduro’s dictatorship is destroying that once great and prosperous nation.”
Pence met with families of the “Citgo Six” before his speech.
It followed a similar meeting earlier this week in Washington D.C.
Carlos Anez’s father, Jorge Toledo, and the others have been held for 500 days as of Friday.
“We have his support,” Anez said. “He feels very genuine, so we’re excited and very positive about this.”
Pence pledged further sanctions against the existing Venezuelan regime amid continued aid to citizens desperate for food and other supplies.
“There can be no bystanders in the struggle for Venezuela’s freedom,” Pence said.
Pence was scheduled to speak at an event at the Bush Library at Texas A&M following his Rice appearance.
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