María Corina Machado, the exiled Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, remains outside the country after departing in late 2025 and has repeatedly pledged to return amid stalled democratic transition talks. Venezuelan authorities have withheld a valid passport and previously closed airspace to block entry attempts, while U.S. officials under President Trump have privately urged delay and invited her to Washington for consultations before any homecoming. Recent associate returns, including one ally detained shortly after reentry in September 2026, highlight security risks under acting president Delcy Rodríguez. Machado has coordinated with U.S. contacts and opposition networks but faces structural barriers tied to her legal status and exclusion from some U.S.-backed negotiations aimed at electoral reforms. These dynamics, including her high but slightly declining approval among Venezuelans, shape assessments of feasible reentry timelines.