Venezuela releases political prisoners after Rodríguez-Trump meeting

A new wave of political prisoner releases has occurred in Venezuela, following a meeting in New York between acting President Delsi Rodríguez and U.S. President Donald Trump.

The human rights organization Foro Penal reported that releases took place across various detention centers. Notable individuals released include Miguel Castillo Cedeño, who had been imprisoned since June 2019, Frank Cabañas, who had been held for approximately nine years, and Wilder Vásquez, who was convicted in 2018.

While the Venezuelan government has not issued an official statement regarding this latest wave or its connection to the Rodríguez-Trump negotiations, the administration has previously framed prisoner releases as steps toward national reconciliation. As of September 14, Foro Penal recorded 344 political prisoners in the country.