CARACAS, Venezuela — On Friday, a prominent official from the Trump administration, Richard Grenell, embarked on a trip to Venezuela, aiming to persuade President Nicolás Maduro to accept the return of deported criminals residing in the U.S. and to secure the release of several Americans detained in the country.
Grenell’s visit has caught many Venezuelans by surprise, particularly those who expected Trump to maintain the “maximum pressure” strategy he had implemented against Maduro during his initial term in office.
In a conference call with the media prior to Grenell’s visit, Mauricio Claver-Carone, the special envoy to Latin America, discussed the nuances of the mission. He clarified that the envoy’s visit was focused on a “very specific mission” and did not undermine the overarching goal of promoting democracy in Venezuela.
Claver-Carone commented, “I urge the Maduro government to pay close attention to Grenell’s message. If our calls go unanswered, there will be consequences.”
This visit comes shortly after Maduro’s swearing-in for a third term, amid serious allegations that he had lost last year’s elections by a wide margin. Many in the international community, including the U.S., refuse to recognize Maduro’s claim to power, highlighting evidence from opposition sources indicating that their candidate, Edmundo González, overwhelmingly triumphed.
State media in Venezuela broadcast images of Grenell and Maduro conversing in the Miraflores Palace, characterized as a meeting sought by the American side. In a statement from the Oval Office on the same day, Trump was asked if Grenell’s appearance with Maduro would lend legitimacy to an administration that was not officially acknowledged by the U.S.
Trump responded, “No. We are committed to doing something positive for Venezuela. I have been very opposed to Venezuela and Maduro. Their treatment of us has been unfavorable, and more critically, their treatment of the Venezuelan populace has been severely lacking.”
While some Republicans have openly criticized the timing of Grenell’s visit, expressing concerns that it would provide Maduro with a veneer of legitimacy, others, like Elliott Abrams, noticed the missed opportunity for Trump to directly convey a stern message regarding migration issues without sending a representative.
The friction regarding the election results has led to widespread protests, resulting in the arrest of over 2,200 individuals amidst the unrest. This includes as many as 10 Americans whom the Venezuelan authorities claim were involved in efforts to destabilize the nation; however, the U.S. State Department has not yet classified their detention as wrongful, meaning their cases might not receive the same urgency.
The Trump administration has pursued numerous initiatives aimed at intensifying actions against illegal immigration, including the recent revocation of a Biden-era policy that would have shielded approximately 600,000 Venezuelans from deportation.
During a news briefing, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt informed the press that Trump had directed Grenell to organize repatriation flights for deported Venezuelans, some of whom have connections to criminal groups. Additionally, she said Grenell was tasked with ensuring the safe return of U.S. detainees in Venezuela.
Since 2013, over 7.7 million Venezuelans have fled the nation due to severe economic collapse, with many seeking refuge in neighboring countries. The ongoing dissatisfaction with living conditions and rejection of Maduro’s administration prompts continuous waves of migration toward the U.S., particularly after the pandemic heightened these aspirations for a better life.
Surveys conducted leading up to last year’s election revealed that a significant portion of the Venezuelan populace was considering emigration should Maduro win re-election. Grenell has previously sought Maduro’s assistance in obtaining the release of imprisoned Americans but returned from past endeavors without results.
In a secretive negotiation in 2020, Grenell, alongside Erik Prince of Blackwater fame, attempted to broker a deal in Mexico City for the release of Americans imprisoned in Venezuela. However, those discussions did not yield any agreements, and the notion of a hostage swap was firmly denied by Grenell. Later, the Biden administration managed to secure the release of 10 Americans in a separate deal involving Alex Saab, a close associate of Maduro, further complicating the diplomatic landscape surrounding Venezuela.
