A new report indicates that the number of U.S. citizens arrested and detained in Venezuela has increased over recent months.

Venezuelan security forces have detained several Americans as the Trump administration has intensified efforts to isolate President Nicolás Maduro, such as enforcing sanctions and increasing military presence in the Caribbean,

A U.S. official with knowledge of the situation, speaking anonymously, informed the outlet that although some detainees face what Venezuelan authorities term legitimate criminal charges, Washington is looking into labeling at least two Americans as “wrongfully detained.”

.”

This could accelerate diplomatic endeavors to secure their release.

The official told the outlet that those currently arrested are reported to include three dual Venezuelan-American nationals and two U.S. citizens with no known connections to Venezuela.

has long been accused by U.S. officials and critics of using detained foreign nationals as leverage in negotiations with the U.S.

President Trump has prioritized securing the release of Americans held abroad throughout both of his presidencies. During his first term, he pursued a maximum pressure campaign against Maduro.

Upon returning to office in January, Trump also dispatched envoy Richard Grenell to Caracas to advocate for a prisoner deal.

Grenell met with Maduro directly and was assigned to secure the return of detained Americans, declaring he would bring back six who had been imprisoned, according to .

In May, Venezuela also freed a U.S. Air Force veteran who had been detained for approximately six months. 

Joseph St Clair, a veteran of service in Afghanistan, had traveled to South America to seek treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.

In July, as reported by , an additional 10 Americans and U.S. permanent residents were released following a prisoner exchange that also saw over 250 Venezuelans held in El Salvador returned to their country. The confirmed this release on July 18, 2025.

“Our commitment to the American people is clear: we will protect the welfare of U.S. nationals both domestically and internationally and will not stop until all Americans being held hostage or unjustly detained worldwide are brought home,” Secretary of State stated at the time.

.

This diplomatic push led to discussions between U.S. and Venezuelan officials, resulting in the release of at least 16 American citizens and permanent residents by mid-2025.

These negotiations were later halted as the administration shifted to applying broader pressure.

The U.S. started expanding sanctions enforcement, redeploying naval assets to the Caribbean, and allegedly connected to drug-trafficking networks associated with Maduro’s regime.

Meanwhile, the New York Times reported on Wednesday that among those is James Luckey-Lange, 28, from Staten Island, New York, who disappeared after crossing Venezuela’s southern border in early December.

Luckey-Lange is the son of musician Diane Luckey, known by the stage name Q Lazzarus.

Another former detainee, Peruvian-American Renzo Huamanchumo Castillo, told the outlet he was arrested last year and charged with terrorism and plotting to assassinate Mr. Maduro.

“We realized later that I was just a token,” he said. He was freed in the July prisoner exchange after enduring months of harsh detention.

According to their families, at least two others with U.S. connections remain in prison: Aidel Suarez, a , and Venezuelan-American Jonathan Torres Duque, as reported by The New York Times.

U.S. officials have not publicly revealed the exact number of newly detained Americans.

Digital has contacted the Department of State for comment.