The son of an imprisoned Venezuelan opposition figure has urged former US President Donald Trump to remain firm on Caracas, warning that the government has not honoured its pledge to free large numbers of political detainees.
Ramón Guanipa, whose father Juan Pablo Guanipa is a prominent opposition leader, said only a small fraction of those jailed for political reasons have been released so far. He believes Trump may not yet be aware that fewer than 50 of the more than 800 reported political prisoners have actually been freed.
Last week, the Venezuelan authorities announced they would begin releasing detainees in what they described as a goodwill gesture. The move followed the dramatic seizure of President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas on 3 January by US forces, after which he was taken to New York to face drug-trafficking charges.
Soon after the announcement, National Assembly leader Jorge Rodríguez said an “important number” of Venezuelan and foreign detainees would be released immediately. Several high-profile names were confirmed, including five Spanish citizens, among them human rights lawyer Rocío San Miguel.
Trump welcomed the development, claiming credit on social media and saying the process had begun “in a big way”. However, families of those still held say the reality on the ground tells a very different story.
Speaking to BBC Mundo, Ramón Guanipa said Trump should not be misled by the limited releases. While he thanked the former US president for applying pressure on Caracas, he warned that progress has been far slower than promised. His own father, he said, remains behind bars, and he has been allowed to visit him only once since his arrest.
Juan Pablo Guanipa went into hiding after accusing the government of fraud in the 2024 presidential election, which the United Nations said lacked transparency and which the United States refused to recognise. He was later captured by security forces in May 2025 and charged with terrorism and treason.
After hearing about the planned releases, Ramón Guanipa rushed to Caracas in the hope of seeing his father freed. When that did not happen, he said the disappointment only strengthened his resolve to keep pushing the authorities to fulfil their promise.
The Venezuelan government has so far offered no explanation for the slow pace of the releases. The attorney general has declined to comment publicly, and officials have not provided updated figures.
These events are being seen as the first real test of Washington’s influence in Venezuela since Maduro’s removal. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez has signalled a willingness to cooperate with the United States, even while publicly rejecting any form of foreign intervention.
One of Trump’s claims was that the authorities would close El Helicoide, a prison in Caracas that has become a global symbol of political repression. Originally designed as a shopping complex, it was turned into a detention centre under Maduro and has been linked to numerous allegations of abuse.
Outside El Helicoide, relatives of detainees continue to wait anxiously. Many say they still do not know where their loved ones are being held or whether they are among those due for release. Carmen Farfán, whose son was detained in November 2025 along with his wife and a friend, said her family has had no information for weeks and is growing increasingly desperate.
Human rights organisations and opposition groups have long accused Venezuelan authorities of using arrests to silence critics. While officials have insisted detainees are criminals rather than political prisoners, activists say the latest partial releases underline the urgent need for real and transparent reform.
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