The guards in a Venezuelan prison wore name tags that read “Hitler” and “Demon” while covering their faces with ski masks. American prisoners were reportedly confined to cement cells, subjected to beatings, pepper-spraying, and what one inmate described as “psychological torture.”
Three months into their detention, the Americans expressed their anger through a rebellion, banging on cell walls and kicking doors, with hundreds of prisoners joining in to scream for freedom until the concrete began to crack. One prisoner, Gregory David Werber, rallied fellow inmates by asking, “Are you with me, my Venezuelans?” to which they responded, “We are with you, gringo!”
In late January, six American prisoners returned home from Venezuela after a visit by a Trump administration official to Caracas. Critics argued that the meeting between Richard Grenell, a special envoy, and Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan leader, legitimized a regime accused of human rights abuses. However, others noted that the meeting successfully secured the release of the Americans.
Now free, three former prisoners shared their experiences, providing insight into their detention. They described being hooded, handcuffed, and kidnapped at legal border crossings while attempting to enter Venezuela as tourists. Their accounts reveal Maduro’s strategy of using foreign prisoners as leverage in negotiations.
According to the State Department, nine other U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents remain in Venezuelan custody. A watchdog group, Foro Penal, reports that at least 68 foreign passport holders are wrongfully imprisoned in Venezuela, alongside approximately 900 Venezuelan political prisoners.
The foreign detainees come from various countries, including Spain, Germany, Argentina, Colombia, and Uruguay, with most captured in the past year. This strategy appears to be expanding as Maduro seeks to regain influence amid declining support.
Within the Trump administration, there is a division regarding how to engage with Maduro. Some advisers advocate for transactional deals, while others, like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, favor a more isolationist approach aimed at pressuring Maduro.
The U.S. government is actively working to secure the release of all Americans unjustly detained in Venezuela. The Venezuelan government has accused some detained Americans of terrorism and plotting against Maduro.
Among those still in detention are Jonathan Pagan, who was operating a bakery in Venezuela, Jorge Vargas, an older man with health issues, and Joseph St. Clair, an Air Force veteran seeking treatment for PTSD.
Mr. Werber, a 62-year-old software developer, was on a trip through Latin America when he was detained at an airport. David Guillaume, a 30-year-old traveling nurse, and David Estrella, a 64-year-old father, were also captured while attempting to enter the country as tourists.
Upon their detainment, the Americans were taken to a high-security prison known as Rodeo One, where they faced harsh conditions and were denied access to legal representation. The prison was overseen by guards who used aliases and were known for their brutality.
Mr. Werber emerged as a leader among the detainees but faced severe repercussions after a rebellion attempt, including beatings and pepper-spraying by the guards.
Following a visit from Grenell, the Americans were released, with Maduro agreeing to their freedom in exchange for the deportation of Venezuelans from the U.S. Upon their return, the former prisoners expressed gratitude but also frustration over the lack of immediate support and assistance from the U.S. government.
Six weeks post-release, Mr. Guillaume is living in Colombia while grappling with the ongoing detention of his fiancée, who remains imprisoned in Venezuela. He expressed feelings of dishonor and emotional turmoil over her continued captivity, stating that his heart and happiness are still trapped in Venezuela.