**María Corina Machado remains in exile outside Venezuela as of September 2026, with her planned return blocked by both the Delcy Rodríguez-led interim government and limited U.S. support.** She fled secretly by boat in December 2025 to accept the Nobel Peace Prize and has since operated from Panama and the United States while calling for free elections. In late June 2026, following major earthquakes, she attempted re-entry via Curaçao and a flight from Panama; both efforts were halted after the regime closed airspace, airlines refused boarding, and Trump administration officials withdrew backing, describing the timing as counterproductive amid recovery operations. Machado has publicly committed to returning before year-end to participate in politics, but any entry without regime authorization risks confrontation, and U.S. officials have urged patience pending negotiated conditions. These barriers, combined with her lack of a valid Venezuelan passport and the regime’s control over borders, continue to shape trader assessments of near-term entry.