Venezuela releases opposition figures after Maduro arrest; Trump says U.S. requested it

GUATIRE, Venezuela (AP) — The Venezuelan government released several prominent opposition figures, activists, and journalists on Thursday, less than a week after former President Nicolás Maduro was arrested by U.S. forces to face drug trafficking charges.

U.S. President Donald Trump said the releases were made at the request of Washington. In an interview, Trump praised the government of Acting President Delcy Rodríguez for the move.

Jorge Rodríguez, the head of the Venezuelan National Assembly, characterized the releases as a gesture aimed at "seeking peace."

Those freed include opposition leader Biagio Pilieri and Enrique Márquez, a former presidential candidate. Five Spanish citizens were also among those released.

Human rights groups welcomed the move with caution as families of the prisoners continued to wait outside several detention centers.

The Venezuelan government has consistently denied holding political prisoners. However, the rights group Foro Penal reported that 863 people were being held for "political reasons" in the country as of late 2025.

The recent release of political prisoners in Caracas represents a calculated concession by the post-Maduro administration, designed to navigate the transactional diplomacy of the second Trump term. Rather than a fundamental pivot toward democratic reform, the move is a transparent survival tactic. By meeting specific U.S. demands, the government—now led by Maduro loyalist Delcy Rodríguez—is aggressively pursuing diplomatic recognition, the lifting of crippling economic sanctions, and the consolidation of its domestic authority.

President Trump’s praise for the new administration marks a significant political victory for the White House, serving as a self-correction that validates his "maximum pressure" doctrine. However, it also signals a profound shift in Washington’s regional strategy. The U.S. appears to be deprioritizing the long-standing goal of total regime change in favor of a stable, cooperative partner in Venezuela, even if that partner is a remnant of the previous era. This pivot is most evident in the administration’s marginalization of hardline opposition leader María Corina Machado, whose influence is being eclipsed by Washington’s pursuit of realpolitik.

Human rights organizations remain understandably skeptical. Caracas has a long-standing precedent of using detainees as "bargaining chips" to alleviate international pressure during economic crises. Whether this move signals a genuine political opening or remains a mere symbolic gesture is yet to be determined. The ultimate litmus test for the Rodríguez government’s intentions will be the fate of the more than 800 political prisoners who remain behind bars.

While this event carries no direct impact on the Vietnamese-American community, the images of political prisoners reuniting with their families resonate deeply. For many across Little Saigon, these scenes stir profound memories of the hardships faced after 1975. Whether they are business owners in the nail salon industry or families gathered at a neighborhood phở restaurant, the diaspora remains intimately connected to these stories of separation. It is a poignant reminder of their own journeys to freedom—whether through refugee status or visa categories like the F2B—and the enduring strength it took to bring their families back together in America.