Venezuela releases six US citizens after meeting with Trump's special envoy

(CLO) The Venezuelan government has released six detained US citizens, following a meeting between President Nicolás Maduro and Mr. Richard Grenell, special envoy of the Trump administration on January 31.

President Trump and Mr. Grenell announced the news on social media. Mr. Grenell posted a photo of himself and six men on the plane returning to the US. "They just spoke with @realDonaldTrump and kept thanking him," Mr. Grenell wrote on X.

Meanwhile, Mr. Trump posted: "Just been informed that 6 hostages are being brought home from Venezuela. Thank you Ric Grenell and my entire staff. Great job!"

Mr. Grenell (standing in white shirt) and six men on the plane returning to the US. Photo: X/RichardGrenell

Venezuelan state television broadcast footage of Mr. Grenell meeting President Maduro at Miraflores Palace. After the meeting, Mr. Maduro said the two sides had reached some "initial agreements." He emphasized his desire to establish diplomatic relations with the United States based on "respect for sovereignty."

Neither the White House nor the Maduro administration has released the names of the six freed Americans, but an advocacy group said they included David Estrella, 62, who had been accused of involvement in a plot to assassinate Maduro.

Grenell's trip was not only to rescue American citizens but also to serve Mr. Trump's plan to tighten immigration. The White House announced that Mr. Trump had instructed Mr. Grenell to find locations for repatriation flights.

The move comes after Mr Trump rescinded a Biden administration policy that had protected some 600,000 Venezuelans from deportation, many of whom now face being forced out of the US in just two months.

Ngoc Anh (according to NYP, NBC)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/venezuela-tra-tu-do-cho-6-cong-dan-my-sau-cuoc-gap-voi-dac-phai-vien-cua-ong-trump-post332591.html