The Nicolas Maduro regime on Friday released six imprisoned Americans following a meeting in Caracas between the Venezuelan strongman and Trump administration special envoy Richard Grenell.
Though the identities of all of the Americans were not confirmed, Grenell posted a photo on his personal X account of himself and the six Americans flying back to the US.
One of the Americans was later determined to be David Estrella, an Ecuadoran-American from New York who had traveled to Venezuela on 9 September to visit friends.
Estrella had crossed into Venezuela from the Colombian border city of Cucuta and was arrested shortly thereafter on charges he was trying to oust Maduro.
The regime often arrests Americans on charges valid or trumped-up with the intention of using them to trade for Venezuelan operatives held by the US or to obtain relief from US sanctions.
The Maduro regime arrested at least ten Americans and 115 other foreign citizens after its brazen steal of the 28 July presidential election.
Most were arrested on concocted terrorism charges or were wrongfully accused of trying to overthrow Maduro.
The release of the six Americans was a small price to pay for Maduro effectively securing recognition from the Trump administration after the Biden administration recognized opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez as the victor in the presidential election.
Grenell was in Venezuela to secure regime acceptance of US deportation flights of illegal Venezuelan migrants.
Maduro can defy the Venezuelan public and world opinion as long as he retains the support of military leaders whom he has bought off with the proceeds of narcotrafficking and who are closely watched by Cuban intelligence agents.
Americans and other foreigners remain at serious risk of wrongful detention. Risks are elevated for those with military or law-enforcement backgrounds.
Travel should not be undertaken to Venezuela.
