CARACAS, Venezuela — Six U.S. citizens who had been in detention in Venezuela were released by President Nicolás Maduro’s government following a meeting with a special envoy from the Trump administration. This meeting occurred on Friday and was aimed at discussing the repatriation of Venezuelans who had been deported from the United States after committing crimes.
Richard Grenell, the designated envoy for special missions, shared the news of the release on social media platforms alongside U.S. President Donald Trump. The unexpected nature of Grenell’s visit surprised many in Venezuela, especially those who anticipated that Trump would persist with his earlier “maximum pressure” strategy against Maduro’s regime.
The primary agenda during Grenell’s visit revolved around facilitating the deportation of Venezuelans back to their country, which has been refusing to accept them, and ensuring the release of the detained Americans. Grenell confirmed the success of this trip with a post on X, celebrating the safe return of the six men to their homeland. He added that the men expressed their gratitude directly to Trump during their journey home.
Trump later commented on social media, expressing satisfaction in seeing the Americans returned and stated that Venezuela had agreed to accept all undocumented Venezuelans, including members of criminal groups, back from the U.S. The details surrounding this agreement, however, were not immediately confirmed by Venezuela’s government.
The meeting transpired shortly after Maduro’s inauguration for a controversial third term, amidst claims that the election outcome was marred by fraud. A coalition of U.S. and other Western officials contests Maduro’s legitimacy, asserting that opposition data indicates a significant victory for challenger Edmundo González.
Venezuela’s state television broadcast the discussions between Grenell and Maduro, indicating that the U.S. initiated the request for the meeting. Following a signing ceremony held in the Oval Office, Trump was asked about the implications of Grenell meeting with Maduro, and he firmly stated that while he remains critical of Maduro’s governance, diplomatic efforts were necessary to address the crisis in Venezuela.
Maduro, appearing post-meeting on state television, indicated that the discussions led to some preliminary agreements without revealing specific details. He emphasized a desire for relationships grounded in respect for Venezuela’s sovereignty and internal matters.
Some conservatives voiced concerns over the timing of the visit, suggesting it could unintentionally offer legitimacy to Maduro’s regime. Elliott Abrams, a former special envoy, criticized the decision to engage with Maduro at this time, arguing that it could be portrayed as American recognition of his administration.
Following the election-related unrest that saw widespread protests, as many as 10 Americans have been accused of connections to plots aiming to undermine the Venezuelan government. The names of the six Americans released have not been disclosed. David Estrella, a 62-year-old who had not been heard from since September, was reported to be among those freed. Venezuelan authorities had previously implicated Estrella in a purported assassination plot against Maduro.
The Trump administration has implemented various policies aimed at tightening immigration protocols, including reversing a Biden-era decision that offered protections to a significant number of Venezuelans in the U.S., risking their deportation.
Speaking to reporters, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt explained that Trump had directed Grenell to manage the logistics of returning Venezuelans, including those linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, to their country, and to ensure the return of all U.S. captives in Venezuela.
Since the onset of the economic crisis in 2013, over 7.7 million Venezuelans have fled their homeland, primarily relocating to nearby regions. The continued struggles under Maduro’s presidency are likely to fuel further emigration desires for improved living conditions.
As the last presidential elections neared, surveys indicated that about 25% of Venezuelans considered emigrating should Maduro continue in power. Grenell has also previously attempted negotiations with Maduro regarding American detainees, although those efforts did not yield results at the time.
In another twist, in December 2023, the Biden administration succeeded in striking a deal that saw the release of Alex Saab in exchange for 10 detained Americans, part of a larger strategy to re-engage with Maduro’s government.
