National Assembly chief Jorge Rodriguez said on Tuesday that approximately 300 prisoners would be freed between Monday and Friday, including minors, elderly detainees and individuals suffering from medical conditions.

“Between yesterday and this Friday, 300 people will be released,” Rodriguez said, adding that some detainees had been convicted of criminal offenses while others qualified for humanitarian relief measures.
The releases form part of a broader amnesty law adopted in February, one of the most significant political reforms enacted since Rodriguez assumed interim leadership under mounting international and domestic pressure.

Venezuela has already released hundreds of detainees since US forces captured Maduro during a raid in Caracas on Jan. 3, an operation that dramatically altered the country’s political landscape.
Among those freed this week were three former police officers imprisoned since 2003 for their alleged involvement in the brief 2002 overthrow attempt against former president Hugo Chavez.

Rights organization Foro Penal said the officers “never should have been behind bars,” while also reporting that nearly 800 detainees had been released since January, including 186 under the formal amnesty framework.

The interior ministry has presented higher figures, stating that more than 8,000 individuals have benefited from the initiative through prison releases, parole measures and other legal mechanisms.
Rodriguez said authorities were extending relief measures beyond the requirements of the amnesty legislation.

“We are going beyond the amnesty law by carrying out a process of granting benefits to these people,” he said.

Human rights groups continue to raise concerns about detention conditions and political repression in Venezuela. Foro Penal says more than 400 political prisoners remain incarcerated.

The latest releases came days after interim authorities ordered an investigation into the death in custody of political detainee Victor Hugo Quero Navas, whose case renewed scrutiny of Venezuela’s prison system.
According to Foro Penal, around 20 political prisoners have died in Venezuelan custody since 2014.

Former detainee Erasmo Bolivar, one of the released police officers, urged families of prisoners still in detention to remain hopeful.

“Stay strong, it is possible,” he said in a video released after leaving prison following more than two decades in custody.

Venezuela’s immigration authority said in a brief statement that Saab’s deportation was linked to ongoing criminal investigations in the United States, although officials did not explicitly confirm his destination. The statement referred to Saab solely as a Colombian citizen, an apparent acknowledgment of Venezuelan constitutional restrictions prohibiting the extradition of Venezuelan nationals.

Saab, 54, was previously released and returned to Venezuela in 2023 after former U.S. President Joe Biden granted him clemency as part of a prisoner exchange between Washington and Caracas.The businessman had long been regarded by U.S. authorities as a key financial operator for Maduro’s government, helping manage overseas commercial networks and sanctions-sensitive transactions.

Maduro’s administration had described Saab as a diplomat carrying out humanitarian missions when he was detained during a 2020 refueling stop in Cape Verde while traveling to Iran.The latest move follows major political upheaval in Venezuela after Maduro’s removal from power earlier this year and the emergence of acting President Delcy Rodriguez as the country’s interim leader.

According to reports, Rodríguez removed Saab from his government positions after assuming office on Jan. 3, stripping him of influence over foreign investment channels tied to the Venezuelan state. Unconfirmed reports in recent months suggested Saab had been under detention or restricted movement inside Venezuela.

The Associated Press reported in February that U.S. federal prosecutors had intensified scrutiny of Saab’s alleged role in a bribery scheme linked to Venezuelan food import contracts under the government’s CLAP distribution program.The investigation reportedly stems from a 2021 U.S. Justice Department case involving Saab associate Alvaro Pulido.

Prosecutors in Miami have examined allegations surrounding contracts tied to the CLAP system, which was created to distribute subsidized food staples to Venezuelans during years of economic collapse, hyperinflation and shortages.

U.S. authorities have alleged that Saab accumulated substantial wealth through government-linked contracts and opaque financial arrangements connected to Venezuela’s state apparatus.The U.S. Justice Department did not immediately comment on Saturday’s deportation announcement.

The move, reflected in an update by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, effectively removes restrictions that had limited Rodríguez’s ability to engage with U.S. companies and investors, and underscores Washington’s recognition of her as a legitimate governing authority.

Rodríguez said the decision could open a path toward improved bilateral relations. In a statement posted on her Telegram channel, she described the move as a step toward “normalizing and strengthening relations” and expressed hope that broader sanctions on Venezuela would eventually be lifted to enable deeper cooperation.

The policy change follows the Jan. 3 capture of Maduro and his wife in Caracas by U.S. forces. Both were transferred to New York to face drug trafficking charges and have pleaded not guilty.

Their detention prompted a political transition in which Venezuela’s ruling-party-aligned Supreme Court declared Maduro’s absence temporary and installed Rodríguez as acting president.

Rodríguez, who had previously been sanctioned by Washington during Donald Trump’s first administration, was among senior Venezuelan officials targeted in 2018 for their alleged role in undermining democratic processes after a widely disputed election. Her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, and other members of Maduro’s inner circle were also designated at the time.

Despite those earlier measures, the current administration has opted to engage directly with Rodríguez following Maduro’s removal. U.S. officials have backed her role in implementing a phased plan to stabilize the country’s political and economic system, including outreach to foreign investors and commitments to increased transparency and international arbitration.

The administration has also taken broader steps to ease restrictions on Venezuela’s economy. In March, the Treasury authorized state oil company Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. to resume direct sales to U.S. buyers and access global markets, reversing years of tight sanctions on the country’s energy sector.

In parallel, U.S. authorities have formally recognized Rodríguez as the sole head of state in an ongoing civil case in federal court, further consolidating her standing in Washington’s policy framework.Maduro, however, remains Venezuela’s legal president under the country’s institutional structure.

The Supreme Court’s ruling allows Rodríguez to govern for an initial 90-day period, which is set to expire Friday, with a possible extension to six months subject to approval by the National Assembly, which is controlled by the ruling party and led by her brother.

The developments highlight an evolving U.S. approach toward Venezuela, balancing legal proceedings against Maduro with pragmatic engagement aimed at restoring economic activity and political stability in the oil-rich nation.

The hearing marked Rubio’s first public appearance before Congress since U.S. forces carried out the operation that led to Maduro’s removal. Lawmakers from both parties pressed the administration for clarity, reflecting unease over how the operation was conducted and what comes next for U.S. involvement in Venezuela.

Rubio said the Trump administration is now dealing with interim President Delcy Rodriguez, a longtime Maduro ally who assumed office following his arrest. While warning that military pressure could continue if U.S. demands are ignored, Rubio emphasized that current talks are focused on cooperation rather than confrontation.

According to Rubio, Venezuela’s leadership has shown openness toward rebuilding ties with Washington after years of strained relations. He told senators that officials on both sides are engaging respectfully and productively, adding that the United States could reopen a diplomatic presence in the country in the near future.

He argued that Venezuela had become strategically important due to the presence and influence of U.S. adversaries such as China, Russia, and Iran. Removing Maduro, Rubio said, was necessary to address what he described as an untenable security situation affecting both the region and U.S. interests.

Rubio told the committee that, for the first time in two decades, serious discussions are underway to reduce foreign influence in Venezuela. He said many political and economic actors inside the country favor renewed engagement with the United States across trade, security, and diplomatic fronts.

The secretary of state is also expected to meet with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, fueling speculation about Washington’s long-term political vision for the country. Questions remain over whether the U.S. would support a leadership transition beyond the interim government.

The administration’s handling of the Maduro operation has sparked debate in Congress, particularly over war powers. A resolution aimed at limiting further military action without congressional approval narrowly failed after Vice President JD Vance broke a tie vote in the Senate.

Several lawmakers expressed frustration over what they described as a lack of communication from the White House and State Department. Some said they were briefed late or not at all, while oil industry executives reportedly learned of the operation earlier than members of Congress.

Rubio defended the administration, saying secrecy was essential to operational success. He acknowledged confusion among lawmakers but said efforts are underway to keep Congress better informed as policy toward Venezuela evolves.

He also outlined short-term plans to manage Venezuelan oil sales under U.S. oversight, while emphasizing a broader goal of helping the country transition toward stability and prosperity. Rubio said the administration wants Venezuela to eventually choose its leaders through free and fair elections.

Democrats and some Republicans warned that the situation could escalate into a prolonged conflict. They pointed to past U.S. military engagements that began with limited objectives but expanded into costly, years-long wars without clear endpoints.

The close Senate vote and sharp exchanges during the hearing highlighted growing tensions between Congress and the White House over foreign policy authority. As the U.S. charts its next steps in Venezuela, lawmakers signaled they will continue to scrutinize the administration’s actions closely.