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President Donald Trump has sent his special envoy to Venezuela to meet with the country’s leader, Nicolás Maduro, to demand the release of detained Americans and the repatriation of Venezuelan illegal immigrants currently in ICE custody.
Some shit you should know before you read: Nearly two weeks after President Trump reinstated his hardline immigration policies, ICE has launched a series of nationwide raids targeting criminal gangs as part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration. Over the last four years, the majority of migrants entering the US have come from Venezuela and Cuba—two countries with which the US has no formal deportation agreements, making it extremely difficult to remove individuals who are ordered to leave. Without a repatriation process in place, those detained by ICE, including criminals, end up being released into the US due to legal restrictions on indefinite detention. The Trump administration is now facing mounting pressure to secure agreements with both countries, as the lack of deportation options undermines the effectiveness of Trump’s immigration enforcement.

What’s going on now: In an announcement, the Trump administration confirmed that Richard Grenell, a longtime Trump ally and former US ambassador to Germany, has been sent to Venezuela on a high-level diplomatic mission. Grenell’s visit marks a significant shift in US-Venezuela relations, as he is tasked with delivering two key demands to Nicolás Maduro: the immediate release of detained Americans and the acceptance of deported Venezuelan criminals, including members of the Tren de Aragua gang. The administration has stressed that these talks do not constitute a negotiation but rather a warning that failure to comply will result in severe consequences. Grenell, known for his staunch support of Trump’s foreign policy, has hinted that this mission could shape the administration’s approach toward Venezuela moving forward.
This all comes as DHS Secretary Kristi Noem officially revoked Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 600,000 Venezuelans, putting them at risk of deportation in the coming months. With more than 7.7 million Venezuelans having fled their country since 2013, the US is home to one of the largest Venezuelan migrant populations, many of whom sought refuge from economic collapse and political persecution under Nicolás Maduro’s regime.
What happens if Maduro says no: If Maduro refuses to accept Trump’s deportation flights, the US is likely to impose even harsher economic sanctions on Venezuela, further crippling a country already suffering from severe financial instability. Existing US sanctions have heavily restricted Venezuela’s access to international banking, oil exports, and foreign investments, exacerbating its economic collapse and fueling mass migration. Additional punitive measures could target key sectors such as energy, trade, and Maduro’s inner circle, isolating his regime even further.