Under the boot of oppression, early Americans established the United States.

It is our duty to free other nations when we can, just as we freed ourselves.

On Jan. 3, the United States struck Caracas, Venezuela, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

The strike has drawn criticism from everyday Americans and lawmakers alike. Many are calling it an overreach of presidential power and a violation of international law.

But these criticisms fail to recognize an important perspective: that of the Venezuelan people.

The removal of Nicolás Maduro is a positive development because it removes a ruthless dictator who has imprisoned his citizens, rigged elections and has allegedly authorized extra judicial executions. UCLA students who value freedom, justice and equality must celebrate the removal of Nicolás Maduro, recognizing that he is an opponent to these aims.

“As a Venezuelan, my instant reaction was just this sense of relief,” said a Venezuelan student, who was granted anonymity out of fear of retaliation from the Venezuelan government. “For so long, it’s been 26 years of dictatorship and somebody cut off the head of the snake.”

A poll conducted by Meganalisis, a Caracas based opinion research and survey company, showed that 92% of Venezuelans were grateful to President Trump for the removal of Maduro.

“I support the U.S.’s approach,” said the student. “I do believe that there needs to be some respect for international laws, but the dictatorship established in Venezuela has had zero respect for international laws at all.”

While the removal of Maduro marked the end of a brutal and oppressive regime, it also raised questions concerning international law.

“It’s a violation of international law, because under international law, one state can’t engage in law enforcement activities on the territory or within the jurisdiction of another without their consent,” said Kal Raustiala, the Promise Institute distinguished professor of comparative and international Law at UCLA Law School and director of the UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations.

The strike was a violation of international law that could possibly have future geopolitical ramifications. But international law demands flexibility in order to protect the interests of people across the globe. It cannot accomplish its purpose otherwise.

A similar concern is whether the strike was justified by the U.S. in terms of foreign policy pursuits and domestic law. This distinction has divided UCLA students along ideological lines.

“To be honest, the leadership in Venezuela is not really our issue,” said Madalyn McKellar, a third-year political science student and member of the Bruin Democrats. “There’s plenty of countries around the world that have authoritarian or bad leaders and it’s not another country’s job to step in without any approval, without that country asking them to step in.”

The capture of Maduro is not a clean-cut legal matter. But it at least follows the established precedent of past actions. Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama both initiated military operations without following legal requirements to the letter.

Legal flexibility when it comes to humanitarian matters makes it easier for the U.S. to maintain its role as a global peacekeeper.

“I think the U.S. has an important role in supporting and helping our neighbors and allies in North and South America,” said Chris Vance, a third-year political science student and president of Bruin Republicans.

Capturing Maduro strengthens the U.S. by making it possible for a friendly regime to prevail in Venezuela while also allowing the Venezuelan people to take control of their country. This allows the U.S. to claim a strategic victory and a moral victory consistent with its democratic ideals.

Not only is it advantageous for the United States, it is also – more importantly – beneficial for the people of Venezuela and every citizen of the world living under an oppressive government.

Let this send a message to the tyrants of the world that their days are numbered and that justice will be served.

“I felt justified celebrating these first steps to have a new democratic Venezuela,” said the anonymous Venezuelan student. “I felt extremely, extremely happy and a great sense of hope.”

The removal of Maduro is a step in the right direction. But the fight for democracy in Venezuela is not yet won.

“I know, and we all know, it’s going to take years to actually get the Venezuela that we want,” the student added.