BY MIRABEL ODETA
The U.S. State Department said Tuesday that multiple American citizens who had been detained in Venezuela were released by local authorities, marking the first known instance of U.S. citizens being freed since the U.S. military’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month. The development comes amid a rapidly shifting political landscape in the South American country and renewed diplomatic engagement between Caracas and Washington.
“We welcome the release of detained Americans in Venezuela. This is an important step in the right direction by the interim authorities,” the State Department said in a brief statement shared with reporters. Officials did not disclose how many Americans were released or provide details about the conditions of their detention, citing privacy and security concerns.
The announcement follows a move by authorities in Caracas last week to begin freeing political prisoners, a step they described as a “unilateral gesture” intended to signal openness during a transitional period. The decision was publicly welcomed by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly said that securing the release of Americans held abroad is a top priority for his administration.
The Trump administration has a history of negotiating for the return of detained U.S. citizens in Venezuela, including talks with the previous Maduro government. In July of last year, several Americans and U.S. permanent residents were released as part of a prisoner exchange that saw more than 250 Venezuelans deported from the United States in March transferred to a prison facility in El Salvador. That deal underscored the complex and often indirect channels through which such releases have occurred.
Among those known to have remained in detention as of early January was 28-year-old James Luckey-Lange. His status following this week’s announcement was not immediately clear. Trump had declared on Jan. 3 that he would “run the country,” a statement that drew international attention and heightened uncertainty for families of detainees.
Luckey-Lange’s aunt, Abbie Luckey, previously said her nephew, who is from Staten Island, had been traveling throughout South America and had no political involvement in Venezuela. She explained that he was detained while attempting to return home for the holidays and emphasized that the family was anxiously awaiting confirmation that the U.S. government was actively working to secure his release.
Human rights organizations say the recent releases extend beyond foreign nationals. Foro Penal, a legal aid group that supports political detainees, said Tuesday that it had confirmed the release of 56 political prisoners since Jan. 8. Those freed include Venezuelan opposition figures as well as several Spanish citizens, suggesting a broader effort to ease domestic and international pressure.
Despite these developments, independent monitors estimate that more than 800 people remain imprisoned in Venezuela for political reasons. Advocacy groups caution that the true figure may be higher due to opaque arrest practices and limited transparency surrounding transfers and releases. While the latest actions have been welcomed by U.S. officials and families of detainees, observers say sustained progress will depend on continued pressure and clear commitments from Venezuela’s interim authorities.
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