Biden announces return of seven American detainees from Venezuela
Source: CNN Politics
CNN — President Joe Biden on Saturday announced the return of seven Americans he said were wrongfully detained in Venezuela for “years.” “Today, after years of being wrongfully detained in Venezuela, we are bringing home Jorge Toledo, Tomeu Vadell, Alirio Zambrano, Jose Luis Zambrano, Jose Pereira, Matthew Heath, and Osman Khan. These individuals will soon be reunited with their families and back in the arms of their loved ones where they belong,” the President said in a statement. The seven American detainees were released in exchange for the release of two Venezuelans imprisoned in the US, both nephews of Venezuelan first lady Cilia Flores.
Vadell, Toledo, Jose Luis Zambrano, Alirio Zambrano, and Pereira are five of the six American oil executives known as the “CITGO 6” arrested in Venezuela more than four years ago. Two Americans who had been detained there, including one of the CITGO 6, were released in March following the visit of two top US government officials to Caracas. Heath, a Marine veteran, was detained in September 2020. Khan has been detained since January 2022. All seven individuals were classified by the US government as wrongfully detained.
Vadell, Toledo, Jose Luis Zambrano, Alirio Zambrano, Pereira, Heath, and Khan, a senior administration official told reporters Saturday, are in “stable health” and have been offered medical care and a “range of support options.” They are currently in the air on the way back to the US, the official said. A second senior official told reporters that US officials met with each of the seven individuals upon their release and are expected to receive further evaluation Saturday. Biden spoke with each of the families to “share the good news of their release,” the first senior official said.
The official described the prisoner exchange with Venezuela as a “tough” and “painful” decision for Biden and the US government. “Over the course of those negotiations, it became clear that one particular step was required to garner the only acceptable outcome: that of free Americans. The President made a tough decision, a painful decision, and offered something that the Venezuelans have actively sought. Specifically, it became clear in the course of negotiation that the release of two Venezuelans, Efraín Antonio Campo Flores and Francisco Flores de Freitas, sometimes referred to as the ‘Narco nephews’ due to their relationship with Nicolas Maduro’s wife, was essential to securing the release of these Americans,” the official said.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/01/politics/venezuela-citgo-american-detainees-released-biden/index.html
Article updated. Last update -
Vadell, Toledo, Jose Luis Zambrano, Alirio Zambrano, and Pereira are five of the six American oil executives known as the "CITGO 6" arrested in Venezuela more than four years ago. Two Americans who had been detained there, including one of the CITGO 6, were released in March following the visit of two top US government officials to Caracas. Heath, a Marine veteran, was detained in September 2020. Khan has been detained since January 2022.
Biden said the seven Americans would be reunited with their families "soon" as he thanked the members of his administration working toward their release. "To all the families who are still suffering and separated from their loved ones who are wrongfully detained - know that we remain dedicated to securing their release," he said.
Their release comes months after a US government delegation quietly traveled to Venezuela in June "for discussions about the welfare and safety of US nationals in Venezuela," a State Department spokesperson told CNN at the time. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed the release of the seven detainees and congratulated State Department personnel for "their tireless efforts to achieve this outcome."
Original article -
Vadell, Toledo, Jose Luis Zambrano, Alirio Zambrano, and Pereira are five of the six American oil executives known as the "CITGO 6" arrested in Venezuela more than four years ago. Two Americans who had been detained there, including one of the CITGO 6, were released in March following the visit of two top US government officials to Caracas. Heath, a Marine veteran, was detained in September 2020. Khan has been detained since January 2022.
Biden said the seven Americans would be reunited with their families "soon" as he thanked the members of his administration working toward their release. "To all the families who are still suffering and separated from their loved ones who are wrongfully detained - know that we remain dedicated to securing their release," he said.
Their release comes months after a US government delegation quietly traveled to Venezuela in June "for discussions about the welfare and safety of US nationals in Venezuela," a State Department spokesperson told CNN at the time.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
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gets to come home after being "Detained" in another country.
TY & the Biden Admin, BRDS!
since they originated from there! 
