Venezuela Detains Americans Amid Growing U.S. Pressure
Source: NYT
Venezuelan security forces have detained several Americans in the months since the Trump administration began a military and economic pressure campaign against the government of the South American nation, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter.
Some of the detainees face legitimate criminal charges, while the U.S. government is considering designating at least two prisoners as wrongfully detained, according to the official. Those arrested include three Venezuelan-American dual passport holders and two American citizens with no known ties to the country, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak publicly.
President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela has long used detained Americans, whether guilty or innocent of serious crimes, as bargaining chips in negotiations with Washington, his greatest adversary.
President Trump has made the release of Americans held overseas a priority in his two presidencies, and sent his envoy, Richard Grenell, to Venezuela to negotiate a prisoner deal days after the start of his second term.
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/world/americas/venezuela-detained-americans.html?unlocked_article_code=1.A1A.jVsE.IOlqLJMZepfH&smid=nytcore-ios-share
Predictable: Venezuela Detains Americans Amid Growing U.S. Pressure www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/w...
— Frank Figliuzzi (@frankfigliuzzi.bsky.social) 2025-12-31T19:10:02.669Z
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