Venezuela has freed some American citizens from prison, US official says

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete January 14, 2026 at 07:36 AM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

Venezuela has begun releasing detained American citizens, a move the US State Department calls "an important step." This is the first release of Americans since Nicolás Maduro's removal in January following a US military operation. The UN reports Venezuela has released about 50 prisoners out of an estimated 800 political prisoners. The interim government, led by Delcy Rodríguez, announced the releases as a "goodwill gesture." Donald Trump claimed the releases were happening "in a BIG WAY" and cited it as the reason for cancelling further airstrikes. However, critics like Ramón Guanipa argue the releases are insufficient and urge caution until all political prisoners are freed, accusing the government of using detentions to silence dissent, particularly after the disputed 2024 election.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

New York 30% Truth Social 30% Ramón Guanipa 40% UN 40% Caracas ×250% Delcy Rodríguez 60% Donald Trump ×370% Nicolás Maduro (Maduro) ×370% United States ×280% Venezuela ×890%

Keywords

venezuela 90% political prisoners 90% prisoner release 80% american citizens 70% interim government 60% nicolás maduro 50% human rights 50% donald trump 40% detention 40%