Freed Americans return home from Venezuela

Imprisoned Americans freed in a deal between the Biden administration and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro arrived to the U.S. late Wednesday, officials confirmed.

Six of the 10 Americans included in the agreement — who were considered wrongfully detained — landed at Kelly Airfield Annex in San Antonio, Texas, according to the administration.

“These individuals have lost far too much precious time with their loved ones, and their families have suffered every day in their absence,” President Biden said in a statement. “I am grateful that their ordeal is finally over, and that these families are being made whole once more.”

In addition to the 10 Americans, Leonard Francis was arrested by Venezuelan authorities and returned to the United States. The detainee, commonly known as “Fat Leonard,” is a fugitive who fled the U.S. before he could be sentenced for his role in one of the largest bribery and corruption cases in Pentagon history.

In exchange, Biden granted clemency to and is releasing Alex Nain Saab Morán, a close ally of Maduro, who was on trial in the U.S. for charges of money laundering. A senior administration official said the president made the “extremely difficult decision” to grant Saab clemency to pull off the exchange.

Maduro celebrated Saab’s return and criticized Biden, saying the country “won’t be anyone’s colony.” The freed prisoner has been regarded as a bagman for the president, and his return is a concession to Maduro, The Associated Press reported.

While the deal marks a bold move by the administration to improve relations with Venezuela, Biden warned Americans that they should not travel to the country. He added that the administration is ensuring that the Venezuela regime “meets its commitments.”

The country has agreed to competitive presidential elections in 2024 in a move that Biden called “a positive and important step forward.”

His statement acknowledged that as they celebrate the return of the 10 American detainees, they “also remain deeply focused on securing the release of the hostages in Gaza” and other wrongfully detained Americans in Afghanistan, Syria, China and Russia — such as Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan.

“We will not stop working until we bring them all home,” Biden concluded.

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