Venezuela Begins Releasing Detained Americans as Interim Government Touts Mass Prisoner Liberation

Overview

• The U.S. State Department confirmed multiple U.S. citizens were freed and called the step important in the right direction, with outlets reporting at least four Americans released.
• National Assembly president Jorge Rodríguez said more than 400 people have been freed across recent rounds and signaled the process will continue.
• Rights groups and opposition figures reported far lower verified counts — from the mid‑50s to around 80 — and faulted opaque procedures; Rodríguez said a list of names will be published.
• Foreign nationals confirmed released include activist Rocío San Miguel, acknowledged by Spain, and Italians Alberto Trentini and Mario Burlò, acknowledged by Italy.
• Families and human‑rights advocates kept vigil outside prisons, insisting hundreds remain jailed for political reasons as the interim government portrays the releases as a unilateral peace gesture following Maduro’s Jan. 3 capture by a U.S. operation.