Overview
- The U.S. State Department warned Americans to depart immediately, citing armed colectivos setting up roadblocks to identify U.S. citizens or supporters, a claim Venezuela’s government rejects as fabricated.
- Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores remain in U.S. custody in New York after pleading not guilty, with a next court hearing scheduled for March 17.
- Interim leader Delcy Rodríguez has opened exploratory contacts to restore relations with Washington after a U.S. diplomatic visit, and President Donald Trump says he could meet her.
- Venezuela’s penitentiary ministry announced 116 new releases, while NGO Foro Penal counted 24 on Monday and independent tallies suggest about 50 since Thursday, including two Italians whose release was welcomed by Italy’s prime minister.
- Families camped outside prisons describe slow, opaque release procedures, as U.S. engagement intensifies with Trump set to host opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado at the White House on Thursday.