Luis Falcón

Luis Falcón has been living in the U.S.

since 2017 after fleeing persecution for protesting Nicolás Maduro's regime in Venezuela.

He's happy to see the toppling of the autocrat, but says it's still dangerous for him to go back despite the U.S.

Putting a foot back in Venezuela means I will be taken to jail, tortured and potentially killed, Falcón says.

The U.S.

has advised U.S.

citizens not to travel to Venezuela due to severe risk of wrongful detention and torture.

Over a dozen journalists have been detained since Monday, and armed groups are already cracking down on those who support Maduro's ouster.

Sergio Martinez Beltran, NPR News, Austin.