Los Alamos Resident Objects to U.S. Military Actions in Venezuela

On January 5, Los Alamos resident Andrew Fraser wrote to Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández and Senators Ben Ray Luján and Martin Heinrich to register his objection to what he described as U.S. acts of war on Venezuela. Fraser told lawmakers that the measures "violate the US Constitution" and said his primary concern was the threat to domestic legal norms, even as he criticized the Venezuelan government’s record.

Fraser acknowledged longstanding opposition to the Chavez and Maduro governments, writing that while he had "believed for years that the Chavez/Maduro regime was damaging to world well-being in general and Venezuelan interests in particular," his greater worry is "Trump destroying the rule of law in the United States." He added that he could not envision an effective way to oppose what he called an illegal action and warned that "with the complacent Republican majorities in both houses of Congress that there is little that you can do either." He closed by assuring elected officials, "Be assured however, that your constituents support any action in opposition that you take."

The letter places a Los Alamos voice in a broader debate over executive power, constitutional limits, and international use of force. While it reflects a personal plea to local federal representatives, the concerns Fraser raises resonate with legal and diplomatic questions debated in capitals worldwide: how to reconcile opposition to authoritarian regimes with adherence to domestic constitutional checks and international law, and how military measures affect the United States’ moral and legal standing abroad.

For Los Alamos County residents, the letter underscores the ways national foreign policy can prompt local civic engagement. Constituents here often have ties to federal agencies, the national laboratory community, and scientific diplomacy; such networks can shape local interest in the legal and ethical dimensions of U.S. actions overseas. Fraser’s communication may prompt constituent inquiries, requests for statements from the offices of Leger Fernández, Luján, and Heinrich, and public discussion about the balance between national security, constitutional process, and international responsibility.

As the national debate continues, Fraser’s letter is a reminder that residents are tracking both the substance and legality of foreign policy decisions. Local officials and community members will be watching how their congressional delegation responds and whether further constituent outreach or public forums follow in the coming days.