Six American prisoners were released from a Venezuelan prison in late January, after a disputed meeting between Richard Grenell, a special envoy for the Trump administration, and Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s autocrat. According to the former prisoners, they were subjected to abuse and “psychological torture” by guards who wore name tags including “Hitler” and “Demon” and covered their faces with ski masks. Three months into captivity, the Americans became enraged and rebelled, yelling for freedom and banging on cell walls and doors. The strategy of Mr. Maduro to use prisoners as leverage to negotiate with world leaders is expanding, as illustrated by the at least 68 foreign passport holders currently imprisoned in his country. This includes Americans, Spaniards, Germans, and South Americans, detained in the last year. Their imprisonment comes amid a tug of war inside the Trump administration over how to handle Mr. Maduro, with some pushing for a tougher approach and others advocating for quick, transactional deals.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/18/world/americas/americans-hostages-venezuela-prison.html