Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores asked a Manhattan judge to dismiss U.S. charges on immunity grounds.
Why it matters: The motion could determine whether the Manhattan criminal case against Maduro moves forward or stalls. It also adds legal pressure to already strained U.S.-Venezuela relations.
- Maduro and Flores filed the immunity bid on Sept. 2, 2026, in Manhattan federal court before Judge Alvin Hellerstein.
- Their lawyers say Maduro is the sitting head of a sovereign state.
- The case stems from a March 26, 2020 indictment unsealed in the Southern District of New York.
- Reuters reported the U.S. government's response is due Oct. 2, 2026, with a hearing set for Nov. 17, 2026.
Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, asked U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan federal court to dismiss a long-running drug-trafficking case, arguing that foreign-leader immunity bars the prosecution. AP reported the filing on Sept. 2, 2026, and Reuters said the motion sets up a response deadline for the U.S. government and a later hearing in November AP Reuters.
The case dates to a March 26, 2020 indictment unsealed in the Southern District of New York. The Justice Department said then that Maduro and other Venezuelan officials and associates were charged in connection with narco-terrorism, corruption, drug trafficking and sanctions-related crimes Justice Department.
Reuters reported the U.S. government's response is due Oct. 2, 2026, and that a hearing is scheduled for Nov. 17, 2026 Reuters. The motion gives the court an early test of whether the case can continue while Maduro claims the protections of foreign-leader immunity.
By the numbers
- Sept. 2, 2026 - The date AP reported Maduro and Flores filed the motion.
- Oct. 2, 2026 - Deadline Reuters reported for the U.S. government's response.
- Nov. 17, 2026 - Reuters-reported hearing date.
Yes, but: The source set does not include the filing itself, so the motion's exact wording cannot be independently verified here.
What's next: The U.S. government's response is due Oct. 2, 2026, followed by a hearing on Nov. 17, 2026.