Given that South Florida is home to many businesses engaged in commerce with Venezuela, it is uniquely situated with respect to issues arising from the recent executive order issued by President Donald Trump Aug. 5.

Trump issued the executive order pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) in order to further similar orders issued by President Barack Obama on March 8, 2015, which blocked property and suspended entry of certain persons contributing to the Maduro regime in Venezuela. This more recent order seems to be an attempt to prop up the interim president, Juan Guaido, and the Venezuelan National Assembly’s exercise of legitimate authority in Venezuela by blocking “all property and interests in property” of persons related to and supporting the illegitimate Maduro regime.