A State Department official said Venezuela must take back “Venezuelan criminals and gangs” and release American “hostages” immediately.

Richard Grenell secured the release of six Americans following a meeting with Venezuela's dictator Nicolas Maduro on Friday. Grenell demanded that Maduro accept deported criminals from the U.S.

U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy Richard Grenell said on Friday he was headed back to the United States with six American citizens, a surprise development after he met with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas.

Six Americans detained in Venezuela were released after a meeting between President Nicolás Maduro and Trump’s special envoy Richard Grenell. Grenell also urged Venezuelan President to take back deported migrants.

The visit came as a shock to many Venezuelans who hoped that Trump would continue the “maximum pressure” campaign he pursued against the authoritarian Venezuelan leader during his first term.

Venezuela has freed six US detainees after talks in Caracas between President Nicolás Maduro and a senior Trump administration official. The release of the men was announced on social media by Donald Trump and his special envoy, Richard Grenell.

Washington to push Caracas to take thousands of deportees, sparking alarm among country’s embattled opposition

An adviser for President Donald Trump arrived in Venezuela on a mission to get the country to accept deportation flights carrying gang members and to secure the release of American prisoners, demands President Nicolas Maduro may use to seek sanctions relief.