Venezuela arrests more Americans as Trump ramps up pressure on Maduro: report

The number of American citizens arrested and held successful Venezuela has risen successful caller months, according to a caller report.

Several Americans person been detained by Venezuelan information forces arsenic nan Trump management stepped up efforts to isolate President Nicolás Maduro, including sanctions enforcement and an expanded subject beingness successful nan Caribbean, The New York Times reported.

A U.S. charismatic acquainted pinch nan matter, speaking connected information of anonymity, told nan outlet that while immoderate detainees look what Venezuelan authorities picture arsenic morganatic criminal charges, Washington is considering designating astatine slightest 2 Americans arsenic "wrongfully detained."

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Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro brandishes a beard said to person belonged to independency leader Simon Bolivar during a civic-military arena astatine nan subject academy successful Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025.  (Ariana Cubillos/AP Photo)

This tin velocity up negotiated efforts to unafraid their release.

Those arrested presently are said to see 3 Venezuelan-American dual nationals and 2 U.S. citizens pinch nary known ties to Venezuela, nan charismatic told nan outlet.

Maduro’s government has agelong been accused by U.S. officials and critics of utilizing detained overseas nationals arsenic leverage successful negotiations pinch nan U.S.

President Trump has made nan merchandise of Americans held overseas a privilege during some of his presidencies. During his first term, he followed a run of maximum unit against Maduro.

On his return to agency successful January, Trump besides sent envoy Richard Grenell to Caracas to push for a captive agreement.

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Joseph St. Clair has been released by nan Venezuelan government, his family said Tuesday.  (Courtesy of nan St. Clair family)

Grenell met Maduro successful personification and was tasked pinch securing nan return of detained Americans, announcing he was bringing location six who had been imprisoned, per Reuters.

In May, Venezuela besides released a U.S. Air Force seasoned who had been detained for astir six months. 

Joseph St Clair, who served successful Afghanistan, had traveled to South America for curen for post-traumatic accent disorder.

In July, arsenic reported by Fox News Digital, 10 much Americans and U.S. imperishable residents were released aft a captive switch that saw much than 250 Venezuelans held successful El Salvador besides returned home. The U.S. State Department confirmed that merchandise connected July 18, 2025.

"Our committedness to nan American group is clear: we will safeguard nan well-being of U.S. nationals some astatine location and overseas and not remainder until each Americans being held hostage aliases unjustly detained astir nan world are brought home," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said astatine nan time.

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Nicolas Maduro and Marco Rubio (Fox News)

That negotiated push led to talks betwixt U.S. and Venezuelan officials and resulted successful nan merchandise of astatine slightest 16 American citizens and imperishable residents by mid-2025.

Those negotiations were later suspended arsenic nan management shifted toward broader pressure.

The U.S. began expanding sanctions enforcement, redeploying naval assets to nan Caribbean, and increased operations targeting vessels allegedly linked to drug-trafficking networks tied to Maduro’s regime.

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The USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7), sits astatine nan dock, connected a acold wintertime morning. (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, nan New York Times reported Wednesday that among those Americans presently reported missing is James Luckey-Lange, 28, of Staten Island, New York, who went missing aft crossing Venezuela’s confederate separator successful early December.

Luckey-Lange is nan boy of musician Diane Luckey, known arsenic Q Lazzarus.

Another erstwhile detainee, Renzo Huamanchumo Castillo, a Peruvian-American, told nan outlet he was arrested past twelvemonth and accused of coercion and plotting to termination Mr. Maduro.

"We realized afterward, I was conscionable a token," he said. He was released successful nan July captive switch aft months of harsh detention.

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At slightest 2 others pinch U.S. ties stay imprisoned, according to their families: Aidel Suarez, a U.S. imperishable resident calved successful Cuba, and Jonathan Torres Duque, a Venezuelan-American, according to reporting by The New York Times.

The nonstop number of recently detained Americans has not been publically disclosed by U.S. officials.

Fox News Digital has reached retired to nan Department of State for comment.