Venezuelans Protest Closure Of Miami Consulate
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A political spat between the US and Venezuela which led to Venezuela closing it's Miami consulate brought angry ex-pats to the street Saturday in protest.
Hundreds of people gathered at Miami's Bayfront Park Saturday to complain the closing will cause major problems not only for Venezuelans living in South Florida, but across the Southeast.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez decided to close the consulate after Washington ordered Consul General Livia Acosta Noguera out of the country. An FBI investigation probed claims Noguera had discussed a possible cyber-attack on the U.S. government while assigned to the Venezuelan Embassy in Mexico.
The US ordered her out of the country by January 9th, but discovered the had already returned to Venezuela over the Christmas holidays. No action was taken against the Consulate, which is the official Venezuelan government outpost in the Southeast, but Chavez decided to close the office instead of naming a new Consul.
Venezuelans living in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina want to know how they will be able to vote in upcoming Venezuelan elections, as well as what they will need to do to renew passports.
Venezuela does have an Embassy in Washington, and Consulates in New Orleans, Washington, New York, and 4 other cities.
