Nicaragua frees dozens of prisoners amid pressure from Trump administration

In January 2026, the Nicaraguan government released dozens of prisoners, citing the 19th anniversary of President Ortega's government. The move follows increasing pressure from the Trump administration regarding Nicaragua's human rights record and crackdown on opposition. While the exact number and reasons for detention remain unspecified, the release comes amid heightened tensions in Latin America due to U.S. actions, including the abduction of Venezuelan President Maduro. The U.S. Embassy in Nicaragua has publicly urged Ortega's government to release political prisoners, referencing the release of opposition figures in Venezuela after Maduro's removal. The prisoner release reflects the growing pressure on left-wing governments in Latin America to appease the U.S. administration.

Following the reported capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by US forces, Nicaraguan authorities have arrested at least 60 people for allegedly celebrating or supporting the event. The arrests, occurring since Maduro's capture last Saturday, were reported by a human rights watchdog group and local media outlets. The NGO Blue and White Monitoring stated that many remain detained without legal information, accusing the government of repression based on expressions of opinion. Reports indicate the arrests occurred under a "state of alert" ordered by Nicaraguan Vice President Rosario Murillo, involving surveillance of neighborhoods and social media. These actions follow claims by Donald Trump that he cancelled further attacks on Venezuela due to its cooperation with the US.