The Trump administration in the United States is jeopardizing the safety of numerous political detainees in Venezuela by not giving importance to their liberation in its strategies for the country’s transition, stated the mother of two detained and mistreated brothers. Marisela Parra, aged 49, expressed relief over the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during a recent military operation. However, she raised concerns about the ongoing threat faced by political prisoners due to the unchanged ruling structure.
Parra emphasized that the transition priorities seem to revolve around oil and business interests rather than the plight of political prisoners who have been subjected to torture or enforced disappearances by the Venezuelan government. According to the human rights organization Foro Penal, Venezuela currently detains over 800 political prisoners. While the Venezuelan government released 54 political detainees on January 1, 2026, the situation remains critical for many others.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled a three-step plan for Venezuela, outlining the release of political prisoners as a secondary phase after stabilizing the country, including the sale of a significant portion of Venezuela’s oil reserves. Despite the U.S. intervention, Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former vice president, has assumed the presidency, maintaining key government figures in power and retaining control over various branches of authority.
Marisela Parra recounted the ordeal faced by her sons, with one imprisoned for his involvement in a failed coup attempt against Maduro and the other targeted by authorities for his brother’s actions. She highlighted the severe mistreatment and torture inflicted on her eldest son while he was detained, including instances of physical abuse and suffocation. Parra’s distress over the situation of her sons reflects the broader issue of political repression and human rights violations in Venezuela.
In the aftermath of the 2024 election, a wave of arrests targeted opposition members and activists, leading to the detention and disappearance of numerous individuals. Human rights organizations have documented cases of sexual violence used as a form of torture within Venezuelan prisons, highlighting the grave humanitarian crisis within the country. Despite international pressure and calls for amnesty, the oppressive regime in Venezuela continues to suppress dissent and perpetrate human rights abuses against its citizens.
