The United States has confirmed the release of several American citizens who were detained in Venezuela, marking a significant diplomatic development in the wake of the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
US Welcomes 'Important Step' by Interim Authorities
The U.S. State Department announced the news on Tuesday, 13th January 2026, stating it welcomed the move by Venezuela's interim authorities. "This is an important step in the right direction," a department spokesperson said. The release follows a dramatic military operation earlier this month which resulted in the capture of the Venezuelan leader.
Confusion Over Scale of Prisoner Releases
The announcement comes after Jorge Rodríguez, the head of Venezuela's national assembly, indicated last week that a "significant number" of both Venezuelan and foreign prisoners would be freed as a gesture to "seek peace". However, the exact number and identities of those released remain unclear.
By Tuesday evening, the Venezuelan human rights organisation Foro Penal had confirmed 56 political prisoners were freed, criticising the government's lack of transparency. In contrast, the Venezuelan government claimed a much higher figure of 400 releases on Tuesday afternoon but provided no evidence, list of names, or timeframe, making verification impossible.
A History of Prisoner Exchanges
This is not the first such exchange between the two nations. In July 2025, Venezuela released 10 jailed U.S. citizens and permanent residents. That deal was part of an exchange for the return of scores of migrants who had been deported by the United States to El Salvador under the previous Trump administration's immigration policies.
The latest releases represent a continuing, if turbulent, channel of negotiation between Washington and Caracas, set against the backdrop of profound political upheaval following the removal of President Maduro.
