Ric Grenell has traveled to Venezuela to meet with socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro and demand that he accept deported criminals from the U.S. and release American hostages.

A senior Trump administration official traveled Friday to Venezuela to urge President Nicolás Maduro’s government to take back deported migrants who have committed crimes in the United States and release a handful of imprisoned Americans.

Despite the visit, Mauricio Claver-Carone, Trump's special envoy to Latin America, emphasized that Grenell's mission does not alter the administration's goal of restoring democracy in Venezuela. He warned of consequences if Maduro's government does not cooperate.

Washington to push Caracas to take thousands of deportees, sparking alarm among country’s embattled opposition

U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy Richard Grenell will meet with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Friday in Venezuela, both countries said, amid a deportation and anti-gang push by the Trump administration that has ruffled feathers around Latin America.

A State Department official said Venezuela must take back “Venezuelan criminals and gangs” and release American “hostages” immediately.

A senior U.S. official traveled Friday to Venezuela to urge President Nicolás Maduro to take back deported migrants who committed crimes in the United States and release a handful of imprisoned Americans.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy Richard Grenell is expected to meet with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Friday in Venezuela, CNN reported, citing a source familiar with the matter. Reuters could not immediately verify the meeting.

Edmundo González, recognized by the United States as Venezuela’s president-elect, urges the Trump administration not to deal with the Maduro regime on immigration.

U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy Richard Grenell is expected to meet with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Friday in Venezuela, according to U.S. Special Envoy for Latin America Mauricio Claver-Carone.