Venezuelan Student Leaders Complete Trip Learning About U.S. Government

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., right, and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., join Venezuelan-Americans gathered on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, May 9, 2014, to pressure the Obama administration to implement sanctions on the regime of Nicolas Maduro, the president of Venezuela. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

MIAMI (AP) – A group of Venezuelan student leaders is wrapping up a trip to learn about municipal government in the U.S.

The students finished the eighth-annual program on Friday.

During their stay, they visited with U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart and a host of other officials, from mayors to emergency dispatchers. They also spent time visiting fire stations, recycling and waste plants, court houses and magnet schools, among other locations.

The organizers hope the participants put the ideas they learned to use and possibly adapt them to Venezuela.

The program was sponsored by the non-profit Independent Venezuelan American Citizens and the Educational Foundation for Democracy.

Miami is home to the largest number of Venezuelans outside Venezuela. Most were fiercely against late President Hugo Chavez and oppose current President Nicolas Maduro.