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Over 3,200 Detainees Freed as Venezuela’s New Amnesty Law Takes Effect

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  • Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodríguez and her brother National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez at Miraflores Palace in Caracas
    Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodríguez and her brother National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez at Miraflores Palace in Caracas
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    Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodríguez and her brother National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez at Miraflores Palace in Caracas (Reuters) Source Full size
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  • Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodríguez and her brother National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez at Miraflores Palace in Caracas
    Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodríguez and her brother National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez at Miraflores Palace in Caracas
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    Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodríguez and her brother National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez at Miraflores Palace in Caracas (Reuters) Source Full size
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  • Veillée pour demander la libération des prisonniers politiques devant la prison de Rodeo I, en périphérie de Guatire (Venezuela), le 22 février 2026.MARYORIN MENDEZ/AFP
    Veillée pour demander la libération des prisonniers politiques devant la prison de Rodeo I, en périphérie de Guatire (Venezuela), le 22 février 2026.MARYORIN MENDEZ/AFP
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    Veillée pour demander la libération des prisonniers politiques devant la prison de Rodeo I, en périphérie de Guatire (Venezuela), le 22 février 2026.MARYORIN MENDEZ/AFP (MARYORIN MENDEZ/AFP) Source Full size
  • José Damasco avec ses proches après sa libération de la prison d’El Rodeo I, à Guatire (Etat de Miranda, Venezuela), le 22 février 2026.MARYORIN MENDEZ / AFP
    José Damasco avec ses proches après sa libération de la prison d’El Rodeo I, à Guatire (Etat de Miranda, Venezuela), le 22 février 2026.MARYORIN MENDEZ / AFP
    Image: Le Monde
    José Damasco avec ses proches après sa libération de la prison d’El Rodeo I, à Guatire (Etat de Miranda, Venezuela), le 22 février 2026.MARYORIN MENDEZ / AFP (MARYORIN MENDEZ / AFP) Source Full size

Amnesty Law Passed and Signed Amid International Pressure Venezuela’s National Assembly approved the amnesty bill on Feb 19, 2026, and Acting President Delcy Rodríguez signed it into law on Feb 20, targeting politicians, activists, lawyers and other political detainees while excluding homicide, drug trafficking, military rebellion and grave human‑rights violations [7][6][5]. The legislation permits lawyers to apply on behalf of exiled detainees, a compromise that eased a parliamentary dispute [7][6]. U.S. pressure intensified after the Jan 3 raid that captured President Nicolás Maduro, prompting the government to accelerate releases [5][4].

Mass Releases Accelerate After Law Takes Effect By Feb 25, a special National Assembly commission reported that more than 3,200 former detainees, house‑arrested individuals and others under restrictive measures had been fully released since the law took effect on Feb 20 [1]. The figure includes 3,052 people freed from house arrest and 179 from prison [1], while human‑rights group Foro Penal counted 448 releases since Jan 8 and estimated over 600 remain detained [6]. Earlier reports noted 23 political detainees freed on Feb 22, 379 releases before that, and 54 freed directly after the amnesty vote [3][2]; the varying totals reflect differences in counting political versus total releases.

Hunger Strikes Erupt Over Exclusion from Amnesty On Feb 22, 214 inmates at the Rodeo I penitentiary began a hunger strike demanding inclusion under the new law, joined by families protesting the limited scope [3][2]. Le Monde reported a separate hunger strike by 200 prisoners on the same day, emphasizing that most detainees remain excluded [2]. The Hindu noted that families launched a hunger strike on Feb 14, underscoring growing frustration with the slow pace of releases [7].

Key Political Figures Freed and Criticize Law’s Limits Opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa announced his freedom after nine months in jail, calling the amnesty “flawed” for leaving many behind bars [5]. Seven members of the opposition Vente Venezuela, including Juan Freites, were released on Feb 22, highlighting the government’s selective approach [3]. NGOs such as Foro Penal verified only 91 political releases since Feb 20 and warned that the “Maria Corina Machado” clause excludes activists advocating foreign armed intervention [1][4].

International Reactions and Ongoing Detentions The United States, represented by President Donald Trump, urged Caracas to close the notorious El Helicoide facility and accelerate political‑prisoner releases after the Jan 3 raid [4]. Families of detainees appealed directly to Trump for pressure on the Venezuelan government [6]. Despite the large‑scale releases, NGOs estimate nearly 600 individuals remain incarcerated, many facing continued monitoring and restrictive post‑release conditions [1][4].

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Timeline

2024 – Disputed presidential election triggers a nationwide crackdown, leading to thousands of arrests and the labeling of many detainees as political prisoners [2][22][4]

July 2025 – The United States and El Salvador complete a prisoner‑swap that returns 252 Venezuelan nationals, including 137 deported under the Alien Enemies Act, to Venezuela [12]

Jan 3 2026 – U.S. special‑forces capture President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas and transport him to New York for a drug‑trafficking trial, prompting intense international pressure on the Venezuelan regime [1][3][8][9][10][13][14][15][18][20][21]

Jan 6 2026 – Security forces detain at least 14 foreign journalists covering the Maduro raid, most of whom are released the same day, while the government tightens media controls amid Delcy Rodríguez’s swearing‑in as interim president [22]

Jan 8 2026 – The acting government begins releasing high‑profile detainees, including opposition figures and five Spanish citizens, as a “peace gesture” following Maduro’s capture [20][21][18]

Jan 9 2026 – Nine prisoners, among them five Spanish nationals and two opposition activists, are freed; families gather outside El Rodeo prison demanding more releases [17][18]

Jan 10 2026 – A limited batch of detainees is released; National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez announces the move as a controlled opening, while relatives stage vigils outside Rodeo I and El Helicoide [16][17]

Jan 11 2026 – On the third day of the release program, Diógenes Angulo is freed after more than a year, and families learn of Maduro’s capture; rights groups report fewer than 20 releases to date [14]

Jan 12 2026 – The U.S. State Department confirms the release of multiple American detainees, though exact numbers remain undisclosed, linking the gesture to the broader “goodwill” releases [10]

Jan 13 2026 – Families flood Foro Penal with requests to label relatives as political prisoners after the death of Edilson Torres, highlighting a surge in reporting amid hopes for further releases [11]

Jan 14 2026 – President Donald Trump thanks Venezuelan authorities for “starting the process” of prisoner releases, while the government claims 400 releases versus NGOs’ 56 confirmed [10][5]

Jan 15 2026 – Acting President Delcy Rodríguez vows to continue releasing detainees, describing the effort as “not yet concluded” and framing it as a response to U.S. pressure [9]

Jan 20 2026 – Opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa announces his freedom after nine‑month imprisonment, calling the amnesty “flawed” for leaving many behind bars [2]

Jan 22 2026 – Rafael Tudares, son‑in‑law of opposition candidate Edmundo González, is released after 380 days of “unjust and arbitrary” detention; Foro Penal verifies 151 releases since Jan 8 [4]

Jan 25 2026 – At least 80 political prisoners are freed, though the government’s claim of 600 releases is disputed; the interim president seeks UN verification of the release lists [3]

Jan 27 2026 – Foro Penal reports 266 political prisoners freed since the Jan 8 pledge, with the government claiming over 620 releases and President Trump praising the “powerful humanitarian gesture” [8]

Feb 5 2026 – Venezuela’s National Assembly unanimously passes the first reading of a historic amnesty bill covering the entire 27‑year Chavismo period, aiming to free political detainees and drop terrorism‑related charges [30]

Feb 19 2026 – Lawmakers approve the general amnesty law (the “Maria Corina Machado paragraph” exclusion remains), marking the first legislative step toward mass clemency [28][1]

Feb 20 2026 – Acting President Delcy Rodríguez signs the amnesty bill into law; the commission receives 4,203 applications, and the law takes effect, excluding homicide, drug trafficking, military rebellion and grave human‑rights violations [7][6][2]

Feb 22 2026 – 1,557 political detainees have filed amnesty requests; families begin a hunger strike of 200 inmates at Rodeo I, protesting exclusion from the new law, while the government releases hundreds from Zona Seven of El Helicoide [1][28]

Feb 23 2026 – The interim government frees 23 political detainees, including seven Vente Venezuela members, as the hunger strike swells to over 200 inmates; the ICRC gains first access to El Rodeo I and Helicoide prisons [29]

Feb 24 2026 – The Red Cross’s entry into Helicoide is hailed as a “first step,” and Foro Penal notes 464 releases since the U.S. raid, with 54 occurring after the amnesty vote [28]

Feb 25 2026 – A special National Assembly commission reports that more than 3,200 people (including 3,052 under house arrest and 179 inmates) have been fully released since the amnesty took effect, though NGOs confirm only 91 political releases and estimate ~600 remain detained [6]

Future – A parliamentary commission is set to review the 232 excluded cases under the amnesty law, while families continue to urge U.S. President Trump to maintain pressure on Caracas for broader releases [29][7]

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